BY ALVIN BENN • SPECIAL TO THE ADVERTISER • AUGUST 22, 2010
The annual Alabama Kidney Foundation Walk-a-Thon set a record for attend ance and contributions Saturday as volunteers once again put the spotlight on one of Alabama's major diseases.
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| Savannah Franks, center, of Selma shields her eyes from the bright sun Saturday as she walks with her mother, Heather, during the annual Kidney Foundation Walk-A-Thon. (Alvin Benn) |
Kidney Foundation Direc tor Amy Godsoe said an esti mated 600 participants walked around a track off Brown Springs Road and raised nearly $74,000. That compared with 400 partici pants who raised about $48,000 last year.
"We are very pleased with the response we received this year and the money con tinues to come in," Godsoe said. "I believe it shows the commitment that the people of Alabama have demon strated in helping those with kidney problems."
Participants who lost one or both kidneys were accompanied by friends and rela tives as they walked around the track. Along the way, they chatted with support ers who lined the course and waved to them.
"The Kidney Foundation is so important to us, especially those of us who are on dialysis," said the Rev. Charles Thomas, who spoke to the large crowd, offered a prayer and then led off the walk. "We all walk this walk together."
Thomas pointed out that the foundation helps with payment of utility bills and other expenses for those who cannot afford them.
Godsoe said money used during the event has been used to help pay electric bills, especially during the summer when air condition ers often send those bills soaring. Transportation costs also are paid to take people to dialysis clinics.
Ruth Crenshaw, 62, who has been on dialysis for the past decade, walked with Liz Jorden, who has helped her for several years. Crenshaw had a kidney transplant which lasted for 23 years be fore it failed and she went on dialysis.
"I'm still able to work, thank the good Lord for that," said Crenshaw, who said she is a registered nurse at a dialysis clinic.
Jorden, 44, who said she is a patient care technician at a dialysis clinic, held Cren shaw's hand as they walked around the track.
Crenshaw said the typical kidney used in transplant surgery comes from a de ceased person who donated his or her organ to help someone on dialysis.
"The ideal kidney is from a live person," she said, "but people are reluctant to do nate one of their kidneys. There just aren't enough live donors in this country."
Many of those on the walk were nurses, technicians or administrators at clinics and made it a point to participate in the event.
Godsoe said the record turnout and contributed funds were clear indicators that Alabamians are begin ning to recognize the dan gers associated with kidney failure.
"They are realizing more and more that it is a silent killer," she said. "It's some thing that can put a person on a machine for the rest of their life."
Godsoe said Alabama ranks first in the nation in diabetes cases and fifth in kidney disease. She said those statistics are "reason enough" for assistance in helping kidney patients.
In addition to bringing in money they had raised, participants were treated to en tertainment by "DJ at Large," silent and live auc tions, door prizes and a chil dren's activities area.
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