What is the Kidney Walk?
The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk is a non-competitive walk focusing on education and the prevention of kidney and urinary tract diseases, and awareness of the need for organ donation. The Kidney Walk presents an occasion for dialysis patients, organ transplant recipients, donor families, the medical and business communities, and general public to celebrate life and create lasting community advocacy and long-term support for the Foundation's mission.
Walkers may participate individually or with teams of family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers. All participants raising $100 or more will receive a Kidney Walk t-shirt. Other prizes are awarded at different fund raising levels. For more information on the prizes please visit our National web site.
Why Walk the Kidney Walk?
- Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem affecting 26 million Americans. African-Americans are four times more likely to have kidney disease than Caucasians.
- Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and family history.
- 71,000 people are waiting for organ transplants.
- One in nine American adults has kidney disease and most don't know it.
- 18 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant.
2010 Kidney Walk schedule
| Sunday, May 2 | Grand Rapids Kidney Walk Fifth Third Ball Park |
| Sunday, May 2 | Southwest Michigan Kidney Walk The Celery Flats, Portage |
| Sunday, May 16 | Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo Royal Oak |
| Saturday, May 22 | Muskegon Kidney Walk Pere Marquette Beach Pavilion |
| Sunday, June 6 | East Central Michigan Kidney Walk Crossroads Village, Flint |
| Sunday, June 13 | Greater Lansing Kidney Walk Potter Park Zoo, Lansing |
| Sunday, September 12 | Ann Arbor/Brighton Kidney Walk Gallup Park, Ann Arbor |
