Freeman March O’the Kidney Walk tomorrow at Northpark Mall
Freeman Hospital’s March O’ the Kidney Walk will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 12. The event will take place at the former Macy’s Entrance at Freeman Play Area
The number of patients with kidney disease is growing in the four-state area as kidney disease risk factors like diabetes, obesity and hypertension are common here. Freeman Health System is holding the 8th annual March O’ the Kidney Walk to raise awareness for what people can do to reduce their risk for kidney disease while raising funds to support patients on dialysis.
Every dollar raised goes to the Freeman Dialysis Patient Assistance Fund, which helps local patients with special dietary needs, transportation to specialized kidney transplant appointments and more.
Registration the day of the event begins at 7:00 a.m. Raffle tickets for more than twenty gift baskets will also support the Freeman Dialysis Patient Assistance Fund. Raffle basket themes include everything from gardening and kitchen items to self-care and movie nights.
Early detection can prevent the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure, so knowing your risk factors is important. Risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Family history of kidney disease
- Aging
- Ethnicities at higher risk for kidney disease (African American, Hispanic American, Pacific Islander and American Indian.)
Chronic kidney disease damages the kidneys and decreases their ability to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body.
For some people, that’s when dialysis is necessary to artificially remove waste products and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so. Dialysis is a lifesaving treatment as kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease.