The Kidney Kamper ‘Prototype’
Rod Wade has commissioned the first ‘prototype’ of the Kidney Kamper, using a Mercedes Benz Sprinter. The Sprinter has been completely transformed by Nicola and Steve at Whatever Queensland and will get its first proper run out when its used as the media vehicle for the Ocean 2 Ocean Australia.
The Kidney Kampers are the reason we are undertaking this mammoth challenge. The ‘Ocean to Ocean Challenge Australia’ will raise money to create a fleet of ‘Kidney Kampers’ for Kidney Health Australia. These are campervans fitted with dialysis machines so those suffering from kidney disease can still have the freedom to travel away from the hospital for weekends away and short holidays. With kidney disease affecting Rod’s wife and daughter, the ‘prototype’ will be used by the Wade family until treatment is no longer needed.
More than 11,500 Australians live on dialysis and it can be very difficult for them to take a holiday due to their treatment restrictions – which require them to dialyse three times a week for five hours per session. The creation of a fleet of ‘Kidney Kampers’ would mean that dialysis patients would have the freedom to take a self-guided holiday, without missing these life-saving treatments.
Every day in Australia, 56 people die from kidney-related disease, whilst 1.7 million Australians are unaware that they have indicators of kidney disease – such as reduced kidney function.
See the Kidney Kamper being fitted out:
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- The original Mercedes Benz Sprinter
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- The original Mercedes Benz Sprinter
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- The original interior of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter
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- Getting wired up
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- Dialysis machine goes in
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- New flooring
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- Windows get cut into the side
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- The shower room
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- Windows both sides
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- Everything including the kitchen sink
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- The dialysis machine
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- The kitchen area
