Guinness Man spreads hope for kidneys at KEM Hospital

Mumbai: Guinness World Record holder Lourd Vijay who is also a dancer was at civic-run KEM on Friday as part of his social responsibility initiative called “Spreading Hope” that aims to raise nation-wide awareness about kidney donation and the importance of organ donation.

Vijay was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2013 and underwent a transplant in 2016 at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. With “Spreading Hope”, he aims to drive from Chennai to Ladakh, covering 9000 km, spreading awareness about the seriousness of kidney disease, and inspiring ten million people to pledge their organs and save lives. The purpose is to engage with government, corporates, and educational and healthcare institutions so as to get them to support the cause.

Vijay said, “Battling the illness for more than three years and going through an organ transplant was a traumatic experience for me, both personally and professionally. This chronic kidney disease changed my life. It gave me a new purpose and that’s how, I started the mission ‘Spreading Hope’. It is a mammoth task of raising awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.”

Driving from Chennai to Ladakh is the first activity undertaken by “Spreading Hope”. Awareness of kidney disease risk in India is very low and people are resistant to the concept of organ donation. Vijay’s mission is to help interested people convince their families and willingly register as donors.