The 2026 Durham Region Kidney Walk is coming up Sept. 27 at Heydenshore Pavilion in Whitby, and I’m so delighted to be highlighting the story of Whitby resident Shannon Ottonen and her team -- Team Richter – Connected for Life.
This year’s walk is incredibly personal for Shannon. On May 4, 2026, she donated one of her kidneys to her stepfather, Shawn.
The journey began when she learned that Shawn had only 15 per cent kidney function remaining and made the decision to research being a living kidney donor.
Shannon shared the news with Shawn that she was going to become his living donor shortly before he walked her down the aisle at her wedding.
“Shawn has always been my dad. Stepdad or not, he stepped into that role when he didn’t have to, and he has always been there for me. When I found out he needed a kidney, I wanted to find out if I could be there for him in the same way,” Shannon says.
Over the next two and a half years of tests, appointments and waiting, Shawn’s kidney function continued to decline, eventually dropping to just six per cent function, and requiring dialysis.
Following the successful surgery in May 2026, the family learned that Shawn would likely not have survived beyond the end of this year, had it not been for Shannon’s life-saving donation.
“I don't really see myself as a hero. If anything, maybe there was something selfish about it, I simply wasn't willing to lose my dad,” Shannon says.
Now, just a few months later, the pair are preparing to walk together at the 2026 Durham Region Kidney Walk.
Last year they walked with the hope that Shawn would be given an extension of life -- this year they will walk to celebrate his survival, and to raise funds to help the Kidney Foundation of Canada give other families the same opportunity.
Visit https://kidney.akaraisin.com/ui/onwalks26/g/49545 to donate to Team Richter – Connected for Life or register to participate in the Durham Region walk.
