By Casey Jay | Mercury News - Campbell
Campbell resident Sherri Zecchini never planned on becoming any kind of activist, and a few years ago she didn't even know the National Kidney Foundation existed. But on June 4, she will lead a team of more than 100 people at the foundation's Kidney Walk in downtown San Jose.
Zecchini said her passion for the cause developed from a combination of several events in her life. In 2007, she began dating a man who had recently had kidney transplant surgery.
"He was very lucky," she said. "He got really sick one day and almost collapsed. When he got to the hospital, the doctors told him if he had waited a week he would have been dead."
Fortunately for Zecchini's boyfriend, one of his five siblings was a match and donated a kidney to him. But she has known other people with less happy endings.
"I've had friends on wait lists for three years," Zecchini said. "I even have one friend whose husband has been on the list for close to 10 years."
Zecchini's professional life also became centered around kidney patients when she started a new job in 2008 at Palo Alto-based corporation Affymax. The company is currently developing a drug to benefit dialysis patients.
"Prior to patients having a transplant, they're on dialysis and they become weak and anemic, similar to a cancer patient going through chemotherapy," she said. "Our drug is to help them with that."
Zecchini said several employees decided to join the National Kidney Foundation's walk after working closely with the organization throughout the years. The first year she simply walked the 5K path through downtown San Jose with her family.
Then two years ago she was asked to be Affymax's team captain and has assumed that position this year as well. Zecchini puts in extra time sending emails out and motivating family and friends to join the effort, and said the work has really paid off.
"Last year we raised about $15,000 total, and this year we've raised almost $25,000 already," she said. "Our goal is $30,000; my plan is to get as much as we can."
Since Zecchini took over as team captain, Affymax has sponsored the event with a $10,000 donation. The rest of the funds raised are all donations brought in by Zecchini and other team members.
She said that knowing what she knows now, she will always strive to raise funding and awareness of kidney health issues.
"Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans and millions more are at risk," Zecchini said. "More than 104,000 people are waiting for organ transplants to survive. And my kids are at higher risk for developing it because their father has had renal issues," she added. "I plan to continue to support this cause even if I'm not working for this company. I believe it's a great foundation."
For more information on the National Kidney Foundation's Silicon Valley Walk on June 4, visit donate.kidney.org, or contact walk manager Samantha Spector at 415.543.3303 ext. 104 or email Samantha.spector@kidney.org.
Zecchini said her passion for the cause developed from a combination of several events in her life. In 2007, she began dating a man who had recently had kidney transplant surgery.
"He was very lucky," she said. "He got really sick one day and almost collapsed. When he got to the hospital, the doctors told him if he had waited a week he would have been dead."
Fortunately for Zecchini's boyfriend, one of his five siblings was a match and donated a kidney to him. But she has known other people with less happy endings.
"I've had friends on wait lists for three years," Zecchini said. "I even have one friend whose husband has been on the list for close to 10 years."
Zecchini's professional life also became centered around kidney patients when she started a new job in 2008 at Palo Alto-based corporation Affymax. The company is currently developing a drug to benefit dialysis patients.
"Prior to patients having a transplant, they're on dialysis and they become weak and anemic, similar to a cancer patient going through chemotherapy," she said. "Our drug is to help them with that."
Zecchini said several employees decided to join the National Kidney Foundation's walk after working closely with the organization throughout the years. The first year she simply walked the 5K path through downtown San Jose with her family.
Then two years ago she was asked to be Affymax's team captain and has assumed that position this year as well. Zecchini puts in extra time sending emails out and motivating family and friends to join the effort, and said the work has really paid off.
"Last year we raised about $15,000 total, and this year we've raised almost $25,000 already," she said. "Our goal is $30,000; my plan is to get as much as we can."
Since Zecchini took over as team captain, Affymax has sponsored the event with a $10,000 donation. The rest of the funds raised are all donations brought in by Zecchini and other team members.
She said that knowing what she knows now, she will always strive to raise funding and awareness of kidney health issues.
"Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans and millions more are at risk," Zecchini said. "More than 104,000 people are waiting for organ transplants to survive. And my kids are at higher risk for developing it because their father has had renal issues," she added. "I plan to continue to support this cause even if I'm not working for this company. I believe it's a great foundation."
For more information on the National Kidney Foundation's Silicon Valley Walk on June 4, visit donate.kidney.org, or contact walk manager Samantha Spector at 415.543.3303 ext. 104 or email Samantha.spector@kidney.org.
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