By Pam Sparks, Alabama Kidney Foundation, Middle Alabama Regional Director
If your family or a loved one has never been impacted by kidney disease, you probably haven’t given this chronic disease much thought. A kidney disease diagnosis can mean that dialysis or a kidney transplant are in the patient’s future in order to survive. Consider these facts:
- About 400,000 Alabamians have chronic kidney disease.
- Alabama ranks 5th in the nation for kidney disease, caused primarily by high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Nearly 10,000 Alabamians must undergo dialysis treatments for several hours three or four times each week to sustain life.
- A kidney disease diagnosis can be financially devastating because the time required for dialysis often prevents patients from being able to work, and costs associated with treatment and transportation to and from the dialysis clinic can be very high.
Thousands of kidney disease patients on dialysis turn to the Alabama Kidney Foundation for help every year. Statewide, more than $650,000 was provided in financial assistance for dialysis patients in 2015, with Middle Alabama receiving the most assistance … an astounding $218,855 … 34 percent of the statewide total. Sadly, the need is great in Middle Alabama, which is why Alabama Kidney Foundation needs you to get involved with the annual Montgomery Kidney Walk.
Montgomery Kidney Walk
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Baptist Health DeBoer Building, 301 Brown Springs Road
montgomerykidneywalk.org
Alabama Kidney Foundation is honored to have the support of Pastor Jiles Williams, the 2017 Honorary Patient Chair. Pastor Williams has led New Providence Baptist Church for 43 years, and he served 25 years in the Alabama Senate and 16 years with Montgomery County Commission. Pastor Williams also has chronic kidney disease and receives dialysis treatments three days a week for three to four hours during each treatment session.
“Most dialysis patients are unable to work due to their grueling treatment schedules, which means they endure a financial hardship,” said Pastor Williams. “If more people get involved with the Kidney Walk, the Alabama Kidney Foundation can provide even more support to help chronically ill patients right here in Montgomery and Middle Alabama.”
Pastor Williams is joined by Carl Barker, President & CEO of ServisFirst Bank of Montgomery, who is serving as the 2017 Walk Chair. With the help of their leadership, the money raised through the Montgomery Kidney Walk will be directed to dialysis patients who qualify financially to help with their daily living expenses and with transportation expenses to and from the dialysis clinic. Almost 2,000 dialysis patient in Alabama qualified for financial assistance in 2015.
The Foundation was established in 1975 to provide financial assistance, education and support services and is the only state-based organization that assists dialysis patients with daily living needs and transportation expenses.
To learn more about supporting the Montgomery Kidney Walk with a sponsorship or by forming a fundraising team, please call Pam Sparks at 334-430-8716 or email [email protected].
All rights reserved, Gumptown Magazine. Copyright 2017.
