Reaching Communities at Risk for Kidney Disease: American Kidney Fund Announces 2017 Kidney Action Day Schedule

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced its 2017 schedule of Kidney Action Day^® events to bring awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and free health screenings to thousands of individuals who are at risk in five U.S. cities.

The first Kidney Action Day of the year is this Saturday, April 29, in San Jose, followed by Chicago (June 6) and Washington, D.C. (Sept. 9), with fall Kidney Action Days in Birmingham, Alabama (Oct. 8) and Houston (Nov. 19). All Kidney Action Day event details can be found at KidneyActionDay.org. The Washington and Houston events will also feature a KIDNEYNATION Walk, bringing together people whose lives have been touched by kidney disease to walk and raise money in support of AKF's mission of helping people fight kidney disease and live healthier lives.

Held in communities where rates of kidney disease are above the national average, Kidney Action Day is free and open to the public. The family-friendly event features free kidney health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, health education, fitness sessions and fun activities for children. Kidney Action Day is made possible through the generous support of Presenting National Screening Sponsor American Renal Associates, and Regional Sponsors Akebia Therapeutics, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals ARD, and Satellite Healthcare.

"Chronic kidney disease is not well known or understood, yet one in three Americans is at risk for it," said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. "Working with local organizations and individuals in each Kidney Action Day community, and with the generous support of our sponsors, we aim to help residents take proactive steps to protect their health. Chronic kidney disease is often preventable, and we hope that this event will raise awareness among people who are at highest risk."

More than 31 million Americans are living with CKD, and most of them are unaware of it because kidney disease typically has no symptoms until the late stages. People at risk include those with diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of CKD, individuals older than 60, and African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Left undiagnosed and untreated, CKD can lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure and death.

CKD is an often-preventable health condition. If an individual has developed early CKD, detection through testing is a key factor in slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. Because prevention and early detection are vital to keeping at-risk individuals in good health, AKF urges members of the public to learn if they're at risk for kidney disease and to spread the word to friends or loved ones who also may be at risk. As part of its prevention initiatives, AKF educates the public about risk factors and offers free kidney health screenings in cities nationwide.

About the American Kidney Fund
As the nation's leading nonprofit working on behalf of the 31 million Americans with kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF provides a complete spectrum of programs and services: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, and direct financial assistance enabling 1 in 5 U.S. dialysis patients to access lifesaving medical care, including dialysis and transplantation.

For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

SOURCE American Kidney Fund

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http://www.kidneyfund.org