Leonard Blocka and his granddaughter who accompanied him on sections of his walk. (submitted photo/Leonard Blocka)

By Alison Sandstrom

Virtual fundraising

P.A. man walks 100 km in memory of late wife

Sep 9, 2020 | 12:48 PM

A Prince Albert grandfather has raised just over $5,000 for Canadians living with kidney disease in memory of his late wife.

Leonard Blocka walked 100 km, accumulated over around eight different sessions, largely on the Rotary Trail.

When Blocka signed up for this year’s Kidney March he thought he would be travelling to Alberta to participate in the national event with people from across Canada. Of course, like most fundraisers this year, the Kidney March was modified. Participants walked and fundraised together remotely.

Blocka explained his family has supported the Kidney Foundation ever since his late wife went through kidney disease in the early 2000s, eventually receiving a successful organ transplant. She passed away from an unrelated ailment three and a half years ago.

“It’s part of the memory of my late wife Linda, and also for all the people that are struggling with kidney disease,” Blocka said, speaking about his reasons for participating in the walk.