“While I wait for my transplant, I’ve helped raise over £50,000”
More than 700 participants took part in our annual Glasgow Bridges Walk on Sunday 18 August, raising over £50,000 for kidney research. Grant Anderson, a 40-year-old father of two from West Lothian, Scotland, was one of those who joined the walk. His life was turned upside down when he received a shock diagnosis of kidney disease in 2020.
Grant says: “The diagnosis blindsided us and we’ve been trying to manage it ever since. My kidneys failed and I’ve been receiving dialysis for about four years now while I’m waiting for a transplant. We weren’t expecting any of this.
“I was a rugby player and my wife, kids and I, have always been an active family. Since I began treatment, we have had to be a lot more cautious about what we do and can’t take trips away. Dialysis rules everything right now.
“My wife came across the Glasgow Bridges Walk, and we thought it’d be something we would enjoy doing together with our daughters to make a difference.”
I thought my symptoms were a normal part of aging
After government restrictions had eased during the Covid-19 pandemic, Grant returned to playing rugby but found it was a challenge to keep up with his teammates.
Grant says: “I was an active rugby player, but I began getting cramps and thought, at 36 years old, I was just starting to get old and unfit. Then, when breathing became difficult, and I was affected by more routine tasks like walking upstairs, I thought it was probably long Covid. However, when I saw my GP, he took blood tests, and the results prompted him to send me straight to hospital.
“I was in renal failure and had been for some time. My kidney function was less than 10%. Dealing with that has been tough. I’ve had to begin dialysis, change my diet, manage my medication, and make a lot of adjustments – including retiring from playing rugby. My wife has been my rock through everything, and my parents have been there every step of the way.”
My rugby teammates have supported me
Receiving a diagnosis of kidney disease is an emotional time, and the life-restricting impact of dialysis treatment can be particularly challenging. The mental health of kidney patients is often affected, and two thirds experience symptoms of depression.
Grant says: “Having a rugby background and being involved with a club, means men’s mental health is a big topic for us. I’m quite conscious of my own mental health and people around me are too. I try to stay positive, but it is hard. Waiting four years to receive the call for a transplant has been draining. I’m just anxious to get some more normality back in my life as soon as possible.
“Rugby has given me a lot over the years, from experiences to life-long friends. When it was taken away from me overnight, without leaving it on my own terms, that was hard to take. I’ve moved into coaching now, and it’s important to stay connected with people because kidney disease is a heavy weight on your shoulders. You constantly have it on your mind.
“Luckily, I can carry on my involvement with the club, and I work in my job as a shipping agent remotely, so I’ve been able to continue earning an income while receiving dialysis. I know not everyone is as fortunate.”
Walking all over kidney disease
The record-breaking number of participants at the 2024 Kidney Research Glasgow Bridges Walk have helped to fund vital research to transform the lives of people living with kidney disease.
Grant says: “I’m glad so many people came together to raise awareness, and it was great meeting other people with my condition in a scenario outside of the dialysis ward.”
If you’d like to join our bridges walks in London, Newcastle, or Glasgow in 2025, you can register your interest now.
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