Harrisburg joins cities nationwide to #OrangeUp in March

Our state Capitol building joins bridges, stadiums, parks, & city skylines NATIONWIDE to #OrangeUp in support of the over 600,000 people in the U.S. living with kidney cancer.

The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) is the force behind this annual initiative. Dedicated to serving and empowering patients and caregivers, and leading change through advocacy, research, and education.

As the wife of one of the 600,000 who is living with kidney cancer, I can say that the shock of my husband’s diagnosis left me dizzy, disassociated, and completely unprepared to be the ‘rock’ that I desperately wanted to be for him. I knew that we were embarking on the most important thing that we will ever do, while at the same time feeling as though I had no idea where to start, and no one to connect with.

Through a series of events spurred by a conversation with my sister, I stumbled upon the KCA. Over time, as I clicked through the KCA website, I began to realize that my husband and I were actually not alone, and that there were some very smart people out there working to end the disease that had uninvitedly appeared in our lives.

Hope surged!

The KCA's work has been essential for us. Everything from the vital information found in the 'Just Diagnosed Toolkit', the access to virtual support groups for patients and their families, the empowerment to fundraise on our own with family and friends, and now celebrating kidney cancer awareness month by illuminating the Pennsylvania State Capitol with orange lights!

All of this is why awareness is so important!

At this point, it has been several years since the day the doctor revealed the cancer growing on my husband's right kidney. We've learned so much along the way, frankly more than I ever wanted to know first-hand about cancer. We are thankful for the guidance and personal connections found at the KCA, and we hope you celebrate with us this March for Kidney Cancer Awareness month!

To be a part of the cure you can donate to my KCA fundraising page to help me meet my 2025 at https://charity.pledgeit.org/2025Challenge/@BirdySteps

Or you can donate to the KCA main fundraising page at https://www.kidneycancer.org/ways-to-give/

100% of every dollar you donate directly funds kidney cancer research and patient programs.

If you are unable to donate, please wear your orange in March to help spread the word about kidney cancer and the importance for research, funding, and a a cure!

@KidneyCancerAssociation