Kidney Awareness Walk Oct. 4

Eastern Regional Kidney Foundation is having its fifth annual Kidney Awareness Walk and Renal Family Picnic on Oct. 4 at the Canfield Fairgrounds. Proceeds will benefit local dialysis patients and transplant recipients who are in need of financial assistance.

The walk and picnic will also serve to support the mission of educating the community so they can be aware of facts about kidney health, such as six out of 10 people are at risk for developing kidney disease.

Meghan Hiland, president of the Eastern Regional Kidney Foundation and a renal social worker, said she sees first-hand the impact of this disease — not only patients, but on the family as well.

This year, the foundation is walking in memory of Sylvia Riley, a former dialysis patient who was influential in the community.

Registration for the walk is $25 and children under 10 are free. The picnic is free for all participants and their families. Dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients are free, but need to pre-register. Dialysis patients and transplant recipients receive a free T-shirt. Other walkers may purchase a shirt for $10 or may receive one if they bring in at least $100 in pledges. A $100 in pledges also gives them a chance to win the grand prize. T-shirts are only guaranteed for pre-registered walkers. The others will be given out on a first-come, first served basis.

There will also be a Chinese auction and a chance to win $700 - $1,000 in a 50/50 drawing. All the money raised will stay in the community to help those in the Mahoning Valley.

The Eastern Kidney Foundation would like to thank its diamond sponsor, The Kidney Group, and its Kidney Community Champion sponsor, Associates in Nephrology.

If you would like to participate in the walk and picnic, you can register online at ERKidney.org or call 888-614-7313. Registration at the walk starts at 9 a.m., and the walk begins at 11 a.m.