The father and son duo who operate a long-time Penticton poutine truck are using the family business to champion a cause that hits very close to home.
Tim Treadway manages Jeffers Fryzz, a business that has been the source of poutine in the city for more than 30 years.
But last winter, the athletic 24-year-old’s life was turned upside down.
Tim was faced with a serious health scare: one of his organ’s was barely functioning.
“Everything just felt like it wasn’t working. I was having a hard time breathing and there were just moments I was about to give up,” said Tim.
Tim played hockey most of his life.
He was known to have the occasional anxiety attack but aside from that, he was healthy.
But last October, he collapsed mid-hockey game and that became the turning point in his life.
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“I was playing too hard and just passed out and was rushed to the hospital and found out I had kidney failure when they took my blood,” Tim said.
His father, Jeff Treadway, said it was shocking news that led him to jump into action.
Jeff donated his own kidney, which luckily was a perfect match for his sick son.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada says it can take up to eight years in B.C. for someone with O positive blood to receive a transplant.
“It’s tough because when you’re at end-stage kidney failure and you’re on dialysis, you’re fatigued all the time… there’s no explaining the level of fatigue,” a volunteer with the foundation and kidney transplant recipient Laura Craig said.
After close to seven months of dialysis, Tim had surgery last spring. He has been healthy and energetic ever since.
Now he and his dad are using their family business to raise money for the foundation and encourage people to become organ donors.
They’ll be selling Jeffers Fryzz at this Sunday’s Kidney Walk in Penticton’s Gyro Park, with all of the proceeds going to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
The Treadway’s will also be the guests of honour at the annual event.
Penticton’s Kidney Walk kicks off at 9 a.m.
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