Fresenius Medical Care Helps Fight Kidney Disease By Sponsoring This Year’s Boston Kidney Walk

This year’s Boston Kidney Walk, hosted by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Serving New England, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Canal Park in Cambridge. Sponsored by Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), operator of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, the annual Boston event is aiming to raise at least $500,000 to fight kidney disease by educating, empowering and supporting kidney patients, their families and those at risk.

The walk, a non-competitive stroll through the Canal Park and along the Charles River, includes a variety of activities for adults, families and kids of all ages. This year’s four-mile route runs southwest along the river before crossing the Massachusetts Ave. Bridge and returning to the park. Participant check-in starts at 9:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m.

FMCNA’s local staff members will be providing:

• Free kidney disease risk-assessment screenings
• Discussion with kidney care specialists about chronic kidney disease, dialysis services, and FMCNA’s Treatment Options Program (TOPs) for at-risk patients
• Budget-friendly grocery shopping & cooking tips for those on a renal diet
• Q&A session with FMCNA dietitians about healthy eating

To join Team Fresenius, go to www.donate.kidney.org and register as a new participant under Fresenius Medical Care.

More than 26 million Americans, one in nine adults, have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Millions more are at increased risk for getting it, although most don’t know that because there are usually no symptoms in the disease’s early stages. CKD, which is most commonly caused by diabetes or high blood pressure, leads to a progressive, usually permanent loss of kidney function. When it results in kidney failure, the only treatments are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

"This is the sixth consecutive year that Fresenius Medical Care has sponsored the Boston Kidney Walk, and we’re excited to do so again, since it allows us to connect the work that we do with the people we serve,” says Kathy Dickey, regional vice president at FMCNA.

“We’re thankful for the support that Fresenius Medical Care has given to this event, and are proud to have them as a sponsor again this year,” says Andrea Savisky, regional director of the NKF Serving New England. “The Kidney Walk draws attention to the importance of early detection for those at risk, and the money we raise goes directly to support important programs and services, including free early detection screenings, education, and patient services.”

Additional participants are invited to join the fun by walking individually, or in teams. Others are encouraged to show their support by sponsoring teams or individual walkers.

For registration information, call the NKF at 1-800-542-4001 or visit www.kidneywalk.org.

About Fresenius Medical Care North America

Through our leading network of more than 2,150 dialysis facilities in North America and our vascular access centers, laboratory, pharmacy and affiliated hospitals and nephrology practices, Fresenius Medical Care provides renal services to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. We are also the continent’s top producer of dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable products and a major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals.

For more information about the company, visit www.fmcna.com; for information about patient services, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.

About the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and their families and tens of millions of Americans at risk. For more information visit www.kidney.org.