DECEMBER 2007

The 2nd annual Kidney Awareness Time Walk-a-thon (KAT Walk) was held in 54 cities in 28 states over the weekend of September 15-16. Over 4,000 walkers and 1,500 volunteers participated in this year’s event and raised approximately $400,000. The KAT Walk is a nationwide, volunteer-driven event designed to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and how to delay or prevent it.

It is estimated that twenty-six million American adults already have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and most do not even know it. Early detection and education can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.

“All across the nation thousands of people, including many kidney dialysis patients, walked to raise awareness and to let people know that in many cases kidney failure can be prevented,” said Barbara Lawson, president of The Kidney TRUST. “Over the next year the Kidney TRUST will be expanding its screening program for CKD and implementing a pilot program to provide much-needed assistance to dialysis patients.”

209 dedicated bicyclists recently completed the first Tour DaVita — a four-day, 230 mile kidney awareness and fundraising ride created by DaVita that benefitted The Kidney TRUST in 2007. The cyclists rode from Sheffield, AL to Nashville, TN on September 12-15, visiting DaVita centers along the way. Over $600,000 was raised through donations to individual riders and corporate sponsorships.

The Kidney TRUST, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) through testing and education has filled two key positions. On December 3, the TRUST announced the appointment of Revkah Balingit, formerly senior manager of DaVita, Inc.’s KEY Connections kidney disease education program, as program director. Earlier this Fall, the TRUST selected Stephen Cadby as the organization’s first events director. Stephen was formerly Associate Director of AIDS/LifeCycle, a multi-day cycling fundraising event.

Read more about Balingit.