SALISBURY, Md. (May 14 2024) –The National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland and Delaware will hold its 17th annual Salisbury Kidney Walk, Sunday, June 2 at WinterPlace Park (6737 Blue Ribbon Rd., 21804).

More than 200 people are expected to gather to raise awareness of kidney disease, organ donation and the importance of early screening and healthy lifestyle for those at risk. As the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, kidney disease affects 10,000+ Marylanders. With the increase in diabetes and high blood pressure, the numbers continue to climb.

“Participating in the Kidney Walk can give so much hope and healing to families suffering from kidney disease,” said NKFMDDE Volunteer Walk Chair Cris Henderson – a Laurel, DE resident whose husband, Rick, bravely battled kidney issues for years before passing away in 2018. Today, Cris and her family continue to walk in Rick’s honor: challenging others to take up the fight so others won’t have to suffer and can gain the education and support needed to navigate this disease.

Event check-in begins at 9 a.m. The Walk kicks off at 10 a.m., following warm-up exercises by Dee, announcements by 47 ABC Anchor Rob Petree and a ribbon cutting. Participants can choose between a 3-mile route or shorter path for strollers and wheelchairs. Adding to the fun, everyone can enjoy refreshments from Giant, Surf Bagel, Coca Cola and Schmidt’s Bakery; music by DJ Jimmy at First Class Sound and Lighting and the Kidney Kids Corner with Home Depot Kid’s Workshop, face painting and games.

Funds raised through Kidney Walk will directly support NKF’s local patient services, education and research efforts. Participation is free, but donations are encouraged. Everyone who raises a minimum of $100 will receive a commemorative Walk t-shirt. New this year, those who raise $1,000 or more will receive a fleece vest and membership in the Top Fundraisers Club.

For online registration, visit www.kidneywalk.org/salisbury. To learn about sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, contact Nicole Scharf, NKF’s associate executive director for the Eastern Shore of Maryland & Delaware, at 410.726.8732 or [email protected]. To date, top sponsors of the Salisbury Kidney Walk include Coastal Comfort, TidalHealth, Delmarva Kidney & Hypertension Specialists, Peninsula Nephrology and VFW.

NKF will hold the Maryland Kidney Walk, Oct. 6, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the Northern Delaware Kidney Walk, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 20, at Glasgow Park in Newark, DE. More than 2,000 people participated in the 2023 Maryland and Delaware Kidney Walk events, which raised nearly $260,000.

Kidney Walk is a signature fundraising event for the National Kidney Foundation. Held in nearly 70 communities, it raises money, empowers the kidney community and amplifies awareness of kidney disease. Kidney Walks are a vital source of support as we provide real-time assistance for those in need. More than 80 cents of every dollar donated goes to research, patient services, professional education, public health education and community services. Amgen, Alexion/AstraZeneca Rare Disease, Novartis and Otsuka are national partners.

The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis and transplantation. For more information, visit www.kidney.org.