NKFMDDE Hosting Virtual Maryland & Delaware Kidney Walk, Oct. 24

LUTHERVILLE, Md. – The National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland & Delaware (NKFMDDE) invites the community to lace up their shoes in the fight against kidney disease. On Sunday, Oct. 24, the nonprofit will host the virtual Maryland & Delaware Kidney Walk.

Designed to raise awareness of kidney disease and celebrate hope for the 37 million American adults. affected by it, the event will commence via livestream at 10 a.m., featuring stories from kidney patients, a look at kidney walks past and all that unites us. It’s an opportunity for participants to come together virtually in a time of ongoing isolation to demonstrate their shared commitment to the lives of kidney patients and their loved ones.

To help keep kidney patients and those who care for them safe during the ongoing pandemic, participants can walk, run, bike climb the stairs, do jumping jacks or pushups or any activity to raise to support kidney patients by walk day. Those who aren’t athletic can participate too (i.e., for every book read, healthy meal prepared, or ounce of water drunk on Oct. 24 –ask friends and family to donate ($5) –be creative.

There’s never been a more important time than now for raising awareness and critical fundraising dollars for families facing kidney disease. People with kidney disease and transplant recipients continue to face a heightened risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19. Worse still, patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are developing kidney failure and are becoming kidney patients. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified longstanding health inequities that disproportionately impacted people of color in under-resourced communities—those who are also at the greatest risk of developing kidney disease.

“Funds raised from Kidney Walk will allow NKF to help protect patients with kidney disease from the dangers of COVID-19 while maintaining our commitment to provide all patients with a better quality of life through research, advocacy and increasing living kidney donation,” said NKFMDDE Executive Director Pattie Dash. “We need your help now to give families the information and answers they need to stay healthy and advocate for patients who need priority access to vaccinations, safe dialysis and transplants.”

Each participant will get a fundraising webpage and once the first donation hits their thermometer, they’ve earned a set of Kidney Walk laces. Additional fundraising incentives are as follows:

• Raise $100: Get an official Kidney Walk t-shirt
• Raise $250: Earn a pair of LaceUp socks to Walk your Way on event day!
• Raise $500: Earn a stylish new Kidney Walk mask.
• Raise $1000: Earn a spot in our Top Fundraisers Club, which includes an official Kidney Walk Top Fundraiser T-Shirt and special certificate of achievement

Registration is available online at kidneywalk.org/MDDE.

With Fresenius and Vifor as national sponsors, Kidney Walk is the nation’s largest fundraiser to fight kidney disease. Held in more than 70 communities, thousands of walkers join NKF annually to raise over $10 million to help kidney patients and their families each year. More than 84 cents of every dollar donated directly supports NKF programs and services.

The Maryland & Delaware Virtual Kidney Walk is generously sponsored locally by presenting sponsor Allmond & Company and Platinum sponsor Mid-Atlantic Nephrology Associates, P.A. and ChristianaCare, in addition to CareDx, Horizon Therapeutics, Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Alderson Loop LLC, OmegaCor Technologies, Independent Dialysis Foundation (IDF),Reli Group Inc., Nephrology Associates, TidalHealth, KT&D, Wilmington University, Peninsula Nephrology Associates, P.A., Delmarva Kidney & Hypertension Specialists LLC, Fraternal Order of Eagles, VFW, Elks Care Elks Share, Fresenius, Vifor and AstraZeneca.

This year’s event will share resources for parents/caregivers to use for youth – Your Kidneys and Youth. Youth can learn about kidney health and habits to keep their kidneys and the rest of their body healthy by visiting the KIDney Corner in the Walker Toolkit.

Kidney Disease and COVID-19
People with kidney disease and transplant recipients are at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19. Learn how to protect yourself and reduce your risk of exposure to the virus. Visit kidney.org/coronavirus.

About Kidney Disease
In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic, or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Blacks or African Americans are almost 4 times more likely than White Americans to have kidney failure. Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure.

About NKF
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease. For more information, visit www.kidney.org.