Hundreds of dollars were raised for the Kidney Foundation of Canada BC Branch in the name of Team Nash this week while guests enjoyed an evening painting party at Heartland Toyota.
Team Nash represents 10-year-old Nash Overton who has struggled with a rare kidney disease called FSGS since he was just two years old.
“It’s been a constant battle,” said his dad, Gerald, who along with Nash’s mom, Fallon, and Nash hosted the Blooming on Canvas painting fundraiser Monday with Blooming on Canvas donating a portion of the evening’s proceeds.
About three years ago the family, which also includes Nash’s sisters Reese, 8, and Halle, 6, started taking part in events to benefit the BC Kidney Foundation, such as the Kidney Walk in Williams Lake.
Gerald said the family chose to get involved with events as a way to help raise money for kidney research and also to increase awareness about the importance of becoming an organ donor.
For the last two years, Team Nash has been the top fundraiser for the foundation two years in a row in B.C.
Gerald said Nash’s disease causes scarring of the kidneys and has been controlled by medication for the past eight years, although he has been struggling for the past six months.
“He’s had a tough go of it,” Gerald said, adding his son has to visit the hospital twice a week for IVs and has been unable to play with his hockey team since December.
When asked by his parents why he wants to fundraise, Gerald said Nash’s answer is always the same.
“He says he just wants to help people, that’s how he explains it.”