Nursing students and others attended a World Kidney Day resource fair on March 9 at Northills Shopping Centre.
In the photo: front row, left to right: Third-year nursing students Danielle Aeichele, Jodie Peachey, and Melissa Welsh, nursing faculty member Florriann Fehr (pink shirt), Kidney Foundation mascot Sid the Kid and Dean of Nursing Donna Murnaghan. Back row, left to right: Third nursing student Theresa Link, Kamloops City Councillor Deiter Dudy and Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar. Missing from the photo: Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Councillor Eagle Casimir.

A group of students in nursing, social work and law brought their studies to life this month during a community resource fair on World Kidney Day.

On March 9 at Northills Shopping Centre, nursing students in first, second, third and fourth years fielded a variety of questions, gave practical information around kidney health and provided free blood pressure and glucose checks.

Third-year students Danielle Aeichele, Jodie Peachey, Melissa Welsh and Theresa Link collaborated with the Kamloops branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada to put on the event and for them, it was an experience not found in lectures and textbooks.

“The value of learning how to actually plan, organize and market such a huge event while building skills in community relations, could not be taught in a classroom setting,” said nursing faculty member Florriann Fehr, who also supervised the students. “I look forward to doing this again next year.”

Meanwhile, students from social work and law promoted their community programs, services and student initiatives. Among law’s public programs is its Community Legal Clinic.

In all, the fair attracted more than 20 groups and more than 450 visitors.