Dungannon Social to shed light on, raise funds for IgAN Foundation later this month

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Later this month, Cassey Rivett of Dungannon and her partner Preston Jamieson, both Canadian ambassadors for the IgA Nephropathy Foundation, will host a special fundraiser for the foundation that is so close to both of their hearts.

 

Rivett has this disease and has benefitted greatly from the foundation’s support, she says. She was profiled in The Citizen in 2021 when she was on the hunt for a kidney donor, which she would find when her neighbour and co-worker, Amanda Haak, stepped up and offered to make the donation. It has since been two-and-a-half years since the transplant and Rivett says she is doing well.

 

However, in speaking with The Citizen for this story, she notes that the challenge is ongoing and it is a constant struggle to remain healthy, even with the new kidney, saying she has had to leave parts of her life behind, such as attending concerts, and will often wear a mask when interacting with others, needing to remain as healthy as possible to facilitate a continuing healthy and relatively normal life.

 

As a result of the new lease on life Rivett has and the support she has seen from the foundation, as well as from her community of Dungannon, Rivett and Jamieson are hosting the Dungannon Social on Saturday, March 29 at the Dungannon Hall from 6-11 p.m. It will feature a dinner of chili, soups and buns, a trivia competition and live music by Zach Zell, who is donating his time and talents to the event. Both the trivia and music begin at 8 p.m. that day. Entry and dinner are by donation and there is a cash bar and all proceeds will benefit the IgA Nephropathy Foundation. 

 

Rivett is one of four ambassadors for the foundation on the patient side, while Jamieson is an ambassador on the caretaker side. They are planning on having a third ambassador in attendance that day, meaning that 75 per cent of the country’s ambassadors to the foundation will be in Dungannon that night to help raise funds for the foundation, as well as awareness just over a month after Rare Disease Day, which was marked on Friday, Feb. 28.

 

When Rivett was in the early stages of her battle, she said she was not only greatly supported by the foundation, but by her community as well. There was essentially a daily schedule of people who would drive her to London for dialysis treatment every day and that, in addition to a local coming forward to be her kidney donor, is support that will never be forgotten.

 

Jamieson was also a big part of that journey, making his way to London daily to be with her as she navigated her journey.
She says that local businesses have donated door prizes and other items, but she and Jamieson are still looking for chili and soup donations, if locals would like to support the cause that night. She can be reached at 519-441-0137 or by e-mail at cassy@igan.org.