May 23, 2022 – The NKFM Walk raised $305k on Sunday, May 15, 2022. Over 2100 walkers, double the number of 2021 attendees, enjoyed recognition, camaraderie and fun at the 2022 Michigan Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo. The walkers, many who live with kidney disease, their supporters, and local and national sponsors raised the funds. “Since we don’t close fundraising until June 30, we expect to reach or exceed our goal of $315,000,” states Brian Christy, NKFM Development Specialist. “Our supporters were so enthusiastic and it felt like the walks from the years before COVID.” The funds go toward the NKFM’s statewide programs and patient services. This popular Kidney Walk, the largest in the U.S., also draws attention to the importance of kidney disease prevention and early detection.
Kidney Walk participants enjoyed winning raffle prizes, food, giveaways, music, a kids area with face painting and temporary tattoos, a Kidney Champions’ Tent, and a sunny day at the Detroit Zoo. Four walkers received awards for raising significant funds: 2nd Place Rookie Walker Tamilia Armstead from Shelby Township (Team Walking by Faith) raised $2,200; 1st Place Rookie Walker Julia Kaiser from People Driven Credit Union raised $3,061; 2nd Place Top Fundraiser John Hiltz from OHM Advisors raised $5,715; and 1st Place Top Fundraiser Liza Hennessey from White Lake (Team Mickey) raised $10,351. The Top Sponsor award, which went to Henry Ford Health and Greenfield Health Systems, was accepted by their president and CEO of Community Care Services, David Shepherd.
A very special group that supports the NKFM is Kidney Donor Athletes (KDAs). Pictured at the top right, the group (left to right) includes: John Murrin (who received a kidney from Kristine); Lisa Murrin (John’s wife); Kristine Frost; Brian Frost and Abigail (who donated a kidney a few months ago). This group of athletes each donated a kidney either to someone they knew or altruistically to a stranger. They use their experiences as kidney donors to raise awareness of the need for more living kidney donors and to show how safe it is to donate and how little it disrupted their health or their lives.
Local Giraffe sponsors were Henry Ford Health and Greenfield Health Systems.
Local Polar Bear sponsors were DaVita, Meijer, AF Group, St. Clair Nephrology, Landmark Health, Michigan Medicine/U-M Transplant Center, and Michigan Kidney Consultants.
The national sponsors were Horizon Therapeutics and Vifor Pharma.
For more information on the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and Kidney Walks, visit www.nkfm.org/walks or call 800-482-1455.
