The National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina is rallying the Orangeburg community for its second Kidney Walk in an attempt to put focus on the high incidence of kidney disease statewide.

The NKFSC and community members held a Kidney Walk Kick-Off Reception on Thursday at the American Legion Hut on Riverside Drive. Former South Carolina State University football coach Willie Jeffries, who serves as honorary chairman, was keynote speaker.

With the foundation reporting that one in five adults in Orangeburg are living with kidney disease, organizers say the two-mile walk is needed and worthwhile. This year's walk will be held at Edisto Memorial Gardens on Thursday, Oct. 25. Registration is set for 5 p.m., followed by the walk at 6 p.m.

"The day of the walk is not really as far away as it seems," Jeffries said. "I'm admonishing them to start getting ready in getting their sponsors and teams together."

The purpose of the kick-off reception is to not only present the Kidney Walk to Orangeburg for the second time but also to invite the community to learn about the walk and how people can participate.

"All the activities, except for the walk itself, will be in Centennial Park," said Mary Higginbotham, NKFSC communications and legislative affairs coordinator. She said while the Kidney Walk is planned to be a two-mile trek down Riverside and back, "if someone wants to do a one-mile walk, we're going to have a turn-around point for them, too."

Higginbotham said walkers are encouraged to bring their families to the event, which will feature a Kid's Zone and an array of vendors. Children are asked to wear their Halloween costumes, she said.

Jeffries said Orangeburg has been a good choice for the walk, particularly since the community has traditionally been supportive of the effort.

"They don't do these walks in but about two cities," Jeffries said. "They picked Orangeburg because Orangeburg people always are energetic and try to be number one ... in whatever they do in Orangeburg."

"The more funds we raise, the more research can be done and the more counties the Kidney Mobile can go to like it ought to," he added, noting that early testing is key in helping reduce kidney disease rates.

The Kidney Mobile brings free health screenings to rural communities as part of the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina's Kidney Early Evaluation Program. The Kidney Walk and the foundation's Kidney Cars program are two ways through which funds are generated to support the program.

There is no fee to walk, but individuals who raise $100 will receive a Kidney Walk T-shirt.

"If you raise $200 or more, you'll get a Kidney Walk T-shirt and get qualified for some other prizes. So, we hope that everybody makes that their goal to shoot for," Higginbotham said.

To learn more about kidney disease and the 2007 Kidney Walk, call the NKFSC at 1-800-488-2277 or visit www.kidneywalk.org to sign up for the walk. More kidney disease information can be found by visiting the Web site www.kidneysc.org.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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