American Kidney Fund

Ahead of AMKD Awareness Day on April 30th, join LaVarne Burton, President and CEO of AKF, and Mike Spigler, AKF Vice President of Patient Support and Education, as they sit down with AKF Ambassador Quenton Turner-Gee to discuss the challenges and his triumphs as someone living with APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). Gain a deeper understanding of AMKD, its risk factors, genetic testing and valuable tips for advocating for your health care from a patient's perspective. REGISTER to attend tomorrow’s National Minority Quality Forum webinar at 12:00 pm EST: https://bit.ly/3UCc9xS

Mark your calendars! Join us Wednesday, June 5th from 6pm - 9pm at Pineapple Club, New York City as we celebrate the expansion of the David Atkins Living Donor Assistance Fund to the New York metro area! AKF is proud to partner with The David Atkins Fund to help boost living organ donation by providing financial grants to kidney donors, helping to offset the expenses not covered by insurance. Purchase tickets and learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8kY2hMX

Family is at the heart of everything we do ❤️, and understanding our health history is key to protecting our future generations. With APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease Awareness Day approaching on April 30, I’m reflecting on what it means to inherit more than just traits — we inherit health legacies that shape our lives 🧬. APOL1 gene variations are a part of our story for many of us with African ancestry, influencing our health in ways we’re just beginning to understand. This awareness day is more than an event; it’s a call to families everywhere to learn about their genetic health and seek early diagnosis and management 🩺. Let’s take this opportunity to learn about our genetic history and advocate for our families’ health. As APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease Awareness Day approaches, join me in spreading knowledge and support. Your engagement can make a real difference in our communities and help safeguard the health of future generations. #APOL1Aware #FamilyHealth #AKFAmbassador #HealthAdvocacy🌏 Joshua Albright Jaime Albright American Kidney Fund Nancy Gregory Anne Di Gregory

Leigh-Ann is living with FSGS due to two variationss of the APOL1 gene. Now that she knows the origin of her kidney disease, she’s advocating for others in her family to get genetic testing. Learn more about APOL1-mediated kidney disease and join in AMKD Awareness Day on April 30: https://bit.ly/3IgH4sl #APOL1Aware

During #NationalVolunteerWeek, we thank our wonderful AKF Ambassadors, Kidney Health Coaches, Health Equity Coalition members, KidneyNation & 37 Mile Challenge supporters, and all those who dedicate their time to AKF. From joining us on Capitol Hill to advocate for kidney health legislation to educating others on kidney disease across the country, their generosity, time and effort enables us to expand the reach of our work in the fight against kidney disease. Thank you 💙

AKF is thrilled to be selected as one of the top 50 nonprofit employers in the U.S. by The NonProfit Times and Best Companies Group for the third year! Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Us7zSD

Being #APOL1Aware means knowing how your genes impact your kidney health. For people of west or central African descent who inherited a certain variation of the APOL1 genes, there is an increased risk of developing APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). On April 30, join me, an #AKFAmbassador in recognizing AMKD Awareness Day with American Kidney Fund and become #APOL1Aware. Click the link to watch MY video below: https://lnkd.in/gGzZPq6H

AKF’s Spring 37 Mile Challenge starts in less than two weeks! Join us and our supportive online community as we get active, fundraise and challenge each other to walk or run 37 miles in one month to honor the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease. Enjoy connecting with other like-minded participants and earning rewards for hitting milestones. Join us and get started fundraising: https://bit.ly/4aBLqHh

Do you enjoy educating others about the importance of preventing kidney disease and living a healthy lifestyle? If so, you might be a great fit for AKF's Kidney Health Coach program! 👉 Coaches can find support and share their experiences through the connected community of Kidney Health Coaches doing similar work. Continuing education (CE) credits are available at no-cost to eligible health care professionals. - 👋 Meet one of our Kidney Health Coaches, Kathleen! ❓Q: When did you become a Kidney Health Coach? A: 2018 ❓Q: How have you educated others about kidney disease? A: Public speaking, mentoring others, phone call sessions and hosted classes/workshops and awareness events. ❓Q: If you could give one piece of advice to another Kidney Health Coach, what would you say? A: Tell your story so they connect with you but listen to what they have to say, too. ❓Q: If you could share one thing to someone about kidney disease, what would you share? A: I have experienced good and bad days dealing with end-stage renal disease. The good days take care of themselves it's the bad days where you need to dig deep and push yourself. Kidney disease isn't easy but following a diet and going to treatment will help you feel better. Thank you, Kathleen, for your dedication to educating your local community about the risks of kidney disease! Interested in joining Kathleen and becoming a Kidney Health Coach? Visit our website to learn more: https://bit.ly/3tsnSAm