The nonprofit organization continues to galvanize support, donors and participants for the upcoming Annual Miami Kidney Walk scheduled for Sunday, April 24th, 2022
Aligned with the City of Aventura’s mission to promote healthy lifestyle choices and general wellness attainment for its residents, locals are beginning to pay closer attention to the overall health and functionality of their kidneys. Thanks to the efforts of the National Kidney Foundation of Florida to educate South Floridians about the effects of Chronic Kidney Disease– also known as CKD– families now have access to preventive information, free webinars, and learning resources indicating inherent threats of renal failure.
Chronic Kidney Disease develops from the body’s gradual loss of kidney function affecting its normal abilities to filter blood, expel excess water from the bloodstream, and regulate blood pressure. “Approximately 33% of American adults are at risk for kidney disease; that’s 1 in 3 people, and many of them don’t even know it,” said Barbara Chatman, Regional Development Director for the National Kidney Foundation of Florida. “Education on the causes of kidney disease is vital because there are certain populations more at risk than others– such as African-Americans and Hispanics– due to diabetes and high blood pressure, which are the two main risk factors.”
During World Kidney Day on March 10, the Foundation launched a global campaign raising awareness about the importance of our kidneys to our overall health, and the impact kidney disease has made in the lives of people on a global scale. “Since our nonprofit organization is dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and awareness of kidney disease, we commemorated World Kidney Day by hosting educational virtual and in-person presentations on kidney health and the risk factors associated with the disease,” said Chatman. Though National Kidney Month is observed annually in March, the Foundation intends to spend the year emphasizing the need for massive testing so residents can discover their status, allowing for responsible decisions regarding healthcare plans.
Aventura business owners also participated in this year’s prevention campaign. Gabriel Brakha, owner of Vitalsurance– a multilingual health insurance agency catering to an international clientele– partnered with the Foundation to host a virtual presentation for his staff. “I think it's imperative to help our members understand how to prevent kidney issues, infections and worst-case scenarios,” he said. “We learned that constant hydration is a must and non-negotiable prevention measure for all of us, especially during the aging process.”
The National Kidney Foundation of Florida will host its annual “Miami Kidney Walk” fundraiser on Saturday, April 24, 2022 at Coral Reef Park. Sponsored by local partners such as DaVita, Florida Kidney Physicians and Bayer, registration begins at 8:30 am and is also available at the following link: www.kidneywalk.org/miami
“We anticipate a huge crowd of participants, sponsors, and vendors since we’ve had to go virtual with our kidney walks the last couple of years. It will be good to be back in person again. However, we will offer the walk virtually for those who want to join us from the comfort of their homes or wherever they may be,” said Chatman. She also expressed that the Miami Kidney Walk brings diverse communities together, united in one cause to not only celebrate the gift of life itself, but also each other.
Opportunities to partner with the National Kidney Foundation of Florida for events promoting next year’s National Kidney Month are now available. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to take a 60-second quiz determining risk factors for kidney disease at www.minuteforyourkidneys.org. For more information on kidney disease and preserving kidney health, contact Barbara Chatman at (954) 947-4033 or bchatman@kidneyfla.org. Learn more about the Foundation at www.kidneyfl.org.
NOTE: The original article appears in the April edition of the South Florida Sun Times here.