Greater Baltimore Kidney Walk Returning to Camden Yards, Apr. 19

LUTHERVILLE, Md. – The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland will hold its 13th annual Greater Baltimore Kidney Walk, Sunday, Apr. 19, at Camden Yards (333 West Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201).

Over 5,000 people are expected to attend this fun, inspiring, community fundraiser, which calls attention to the need for organ donation and prevention of kidney disease – the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.

“On any given day in Maryland approximately 9,300 individuals are on dialysis and 2,200 are awaiting a kidney transplant, “said Traci Barnett, NKF-MD’s president & CEO. “Through this walk event the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is building awareness, driving prevention, and supporting treatment of kidney disease.”

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. in Parking Lot B. Guests will be greeted by a cast of characters including:

Ravens Super Fans, Captain Dee Fense and Major Offense; Doc, the Towson University mascot; the Chuck E Cheese mascot; stilt walkers from Big Biz Entertainment, and the Science Cheerleaders, who may lead children in a science activity after the Walk.

Following Zumba warm-up exercises by Fit 4 Life and a brief opening ceremony, the Walk will kick off at 10 a.m. After taking 2-mile path around the stadium, everyone can reconvene in Parking Lot B for complimentary refreshments, including apples from Giant, chips from Frito Lay and UTZ, Entenmann’s and Tastykake desserts, KIND bars, CSX water, and coffee and hot chocolate Chesapeake Roasting Company.

Additional activities include enjoying tunes from DJ Reddz; watching performances by Underground Dance Academy and D’s Magic, face painting by Artist and Craftsman Supply, making wood kits in the Home Depot Kids Club, painting with Wine and Canvas Baltimore, exploring the Playworks “Kid Zone,” taking the Norris Automotive test drive and learning safety activities from Cares Children Are Safe.

Adults also can take NKF-MD’s free Kidney Health Risk Assessment (KHRA) to see if they are at risk for chronic kidney disease. Following a simple Body Mass Index calculation, blood pressure measurement and short six-question questionnaire, participants will receive brief consultations with medical professionals and dietitians to learn about nutrition and kidney disease, as well as general diet and wellness guidelines.

VIPs

Celebrity ambassadors are All-Star Centerfielder Adam Jones and Clyde Simms, a former D.C. United and New England Revolution player – who received a kidney transplant in December. He had retired from Major League Soccer due to complications from kidney disease and was immediately put on dialysis and ordered to control his blood pressure.

Essex husband and wife, Jami & Troy Tillery will be the 2015 Kidney Walk Ambassador Family. Jami used to work in a dialysis center at Union Memorial and Troy donated a kidney to his sister, Erika. In addition to leading “Team Gucci” in Kidney Walk for the past three years, the family has been an inspiration to others in the kidney community, openly sharing their story, attending all NKF-MD events and “bringing a positive, contagious energy to the awareness of kidney disease.”

Corporate chairman is Paul A. Tiburzi, Baltimore managing partner of DLA Piper, which made Kidney Walk a priority after losing a beloved staff member, Michael Barnes, to kidney disease.

Registration

Participation in Kidney Walk is free: $100 is the minimum amount required to earn a Walk t-shirt. Companies and friends and families are encouraged to participate and form teams. Sponsorships are also available. To register or receive information about Walk sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, call 410-494-8545 or visit www.kidneywalk.org. For more information about the KHRA, call 443-322-0375 or visit www.kidneymd.org.

This spring, NKF-MD also will hold additional Kidney Walk events in Salisbury, Md. and Cape Henlopen, De. The walks are nationally presented by Astellas and Questcor. Top local sponsors include Alderson Loop, DLA Piper, Futurecare, Harford Mutual, Mid-Atlantic Nephrology Associates, P.A. (MANA), Ober|Kaler, Susquehanna, Transamerica and Wells Fargo.

At all three walks, MANA will distribute orange caps to kidney patients and green caps to transplant donors and recipients so they stand out in the crowd.

Funds raised through Kidney Walk will directly support NKF-MD’s patient services, education and research efforts. More than 6,000 people participated in the 2014 Kidney Walk events, which raised over $475,000.

KIDNEY DISEASE FACTS

• 1 in 3 American adults is at risk for kidney disease.
• The risk of developing kidney disease increases to 1 in 2 over the course of a lifetime.
• 1 in 9 American adults has kidney disease –– and most don’t know it.
• 10-12 Marylanders die daily awaiting a life-saving organ.
• Approximately 427,000 Americans are on dialysis, with treatment costs for the average patient at $70,000 per year.
• In central Maryland, more than 2,500 are on dialysis.

About NKF-MD

The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland, serving central and western Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of West Virginia, is the area’s only voluntary health agency dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of kidney and urinary tract diseases. For more information, visit www.kidneymd.org.