Inspiring and Fighting Kidney Disease

Contest Reminder: Three more days to enter my contest to win a $30 gift certificate to CSN Stores.  For more information, see my post here.  The contest ends Friday!

My Mom’s Kidney Walk

As you may know, my mom, Marcy, is a kidney transplant survivor. Since her successful transplant five years ago, she has raised funds for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and has volunteered as a mentor for other patients who are waiting for transplants.

My mom is an inspiring person. A true survivor. She’s never just rolled over and let her health challenges keep her out of the game, and she’s continually fighting the fight for herself and the other 26 million Americans with chronic kidney disease.

Right now, my mom is raising funds to walk in her sixth National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk in September. The Kidney Walk is an event designed to help raise awareness about kidney disease, raise funds for research and bring the community of patients, families, friends and businesses together.

Please check out her fundraising page here.

Paddling on Dialysis for Kidney Health

Another inspiring kidney disease survivor right here in Michigan is Erich Ditschman.

Erich describes himself best on his blog, Paddling On Dialysis for Kidney Health:

To celebrate my tenth year of a wonderful life on dialysis I'm getting in shape and canoeing 225 miles with the Grand River Expedition 2010. I am also raising $20,000 for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and inspiring dialysis patients and others living with chronic illnesses to get outdoors and live an active and fruitful life.

Erich is out on the Grand River right now (or at least he was as of his last blog post on Saturday) paddling for fun, fitness and funds to help study kidney disease and help those who suffer with it.

Adventures of a Kidney Donor also has a great post about him.

You can donate to Erich’s fundraiser through a link on his blog.


Obviously fitness and physical activity are something I’m passionate about. So it truly touches my heart to see people around me who face challenges like kidney disease determined to get out there and still be active. Help out Marcy or Erich, if you can. And let’s help eradicate kidney disease for future generations!