Austin Kidney Walk to raise awareness of kidney disease this Sunday
According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 26-million Americans have chronic kidney disease and millions of others are at risk.
Eight-year-old Logan Wood, of San Antonio, was a healthy child until this past summer. Tests revealed he has Nephrotic Syndrome, which caused his kidneys to shut down.
"It's been eye-opening for us to see how much kidney disease affects so much more than just urine output,” said Kristen Hood, Logan’s mother. “You know, the mental state. It can affect his heart. I mean his cholesterol was super high when he was first diagnosed and blood pressure being really high. Kidneys - it's just like your brain and your heart. You can't live without your kidneys either."
Many kidney disease patients end up needing a transplant.
But, fortunately, doctors are able to manage Logan’s illness though diet and medication.
While there are many causes of kidney disease, including diabetes and high blood pressure, doctors believe his case was caused by an autoimmune disease. This weekend, his family and community – “Team Logan” – will lace up their sneakers for the “Austin Kidney Walk,” in an effort to raise awareness and save lives.
"The National Kidney Foundation works toward prevention, awareness and treatment of kidney disease,” explained Lisa Watson, Community Outreach Manager for the National Kidney Foundation’s Austin chapter. “And, we also work at increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. One in three of us is at risk and so it's important to raise awareness of kidney disease and to help and support patients where we can."
The “Austin Kidney Walk” is this Sunday, Nov. 13th, at the Travis County Expo Center.
They hope to raise $75,000. Check in starts at 9:00 a.m. and the walk gets underway at 10:30 a.m.
You can register in person Sunday, or online.
Fox 7 Austin evening anchor, Rebecca Thomas – who donated a kidney to her mother last November – will emcee the event. For more information – click here.