Kidney Walk Aims to Raise $600,000 for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at the Detroit Zoo
Local teenage chronic kidney disease patient hopes to reach goal of $100,000 raised on May 21st!
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — For the past 21 years, more than 70,000 metro Detroit walkers and supporters have teamed up to raise more than $6 million for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s annual Kidney Walk and this year the goal is to raise $600,000 more. As the organization’s largest fundraising event, 90 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to the Foundation’s programs and services that prevent chronic kidney disease and improve the quality of life for the 900,000+ Michigan residents living with the disease. More than 6,500 walkers and supporters are anticipated to attend the Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo on Sunday, May 21.
“The community’s role in the Kidney Walk is an essential part of our ability to provide programs and services to the one in nine Michigan residents who suffer from chronic kidney disease, as well as to help prevent or delay the disease,” said National Kidney Foundation of Michigan President and CEO, Dan Carney. “The financial contributions from our walkers, supporters and sponsors are vital to continuing our programs like Kidney Camp for kids, Regie’s Rainbow Adventure®, Diabetes Prevention Program, Healthy Kids and Kidneys, any many more.”
The Kidney Walk will draw attention to the importance of early detection and kidney disease prevention, while raising funds in support of kidney patients and their families.
Key statistics:
- More than 900,000 Michigan residents are living with chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it
- Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease
- 70% of kidney disease can be prevented
- One in nine people in Michigan have kidney disease
- 90 cents of every dollar raised for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan goes back into the organization’s prevention programs and patient services
Wright Lassiter III, President of Henry Ford Health System; and Bill Kolb, Global President, Diversified Agencies, McCann Worldgroup, will serve as the Honorary Co-Chairmen at the 2017 Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo. The Kidney Walk is generously sponsored by Henry Ford Health System, HAP, McCann Worldgroup Detroit, Greenfield Health Systems, Meijer, Madison Heights Glass, CBS Radio and Fox 2 Detroit. Festivities at this year’s Kidney Walk will include food, games, prizes, music, a kidney Champion’s Tent, massages, haircuts and much more.
Participants can register onsite on the day of the Walk or online before the Walk date. Registration is $25 per person (over the age of 12) and $10 per child for ages 3-12 and includes parking, Zoo admission, and activities. Kids under the age of 2 years old are free. Additional fundraising beyond the registration fee is encouraged. Participants who raise $100 or more receive a Kidney Walk t-shirt. The Detroit Zoo is located in Royal Oak at 8450 West 10 Mile Road. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the Walk kicks off at 8:45 a.m.
For more information or to register, visit www.nkfm.org/walks or call Lisa Schutz Jelic at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at 800-482-1455, ext. 210.
The mission of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it. The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is widely known for providing more programs and services to more people than any other region or state. The organization is recognized for its success in sound fiscal management by receiving a 4-star rating, for the last nine years in a row, from Charity Navigator—the nation’s leading charity evaluator.
*Article and logo courtesy of National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
