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Nora Sanders doesn't put much stock in luck, but the mother of two sons is a firm believer in blessings after having been personally touched by kidney disease.
Her youngest son lost his kidney function in 1999, and the family was left wondering if there was any hope. That's when Sanders' other son volunteered to donate a kidney to his ailing brother.
Sanders said she is grateful that her son is now doing fine but wants to share the need for more education and information about kidney disease.
"It's just been a blessing to me and to the good fortune of my son, who is doing well from a living donor. I want to encourage everybody in our area to come together because the statistics show there is a real need in our counties for this," said Sanders, who, along with her husband, Curtis, was one of more than 50 individuals who turned out Thursday morning at the American Legion Hut on Riverside Drive for the 2008 Orangeburg Kidney Walk kickoff.
Head South Carolina State University football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough, who serves as honorary chairman, was keynote speaker.
The National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina is rallying Orangeburg and the surrounding communities for its third annual Kidney Walk, which will be held at Edisto Memorial Gardens on Thursday, Oct. 23. Registration for the two-mile walk is set for 5 p.m., followed by the walk at 6 p.m.
Sanders said while she had a "very special reason" for being at the kick-off reception, she wanted others to participate to increase their overall awareness of a disease that affects one in four adults in Orangeburg. One in three individuals in Bamberg and Calhoun counties are living with kidney disease.
"I have the closest feelings for this organization (NKFSC)," she said. "I just enjoy being a part of the walk and have participated since the beginning. I want to encourage everybody in our area to come together because the statistics show there is a real need in our counties for this."
One in eight people in South Carolina are living with chronic kidney disease, according to Mary Higginbotham, NKFSC communications and legislative affairs coordinator and director of the local walk. She said it is imperative that individuals talk with their doctor about their kidney count, adding that individuals with hypertension and diabetes, the leading causes of kidney disease, should especially follow up on the condition of their kidneys.
Early testing it touted as key in helping reduce kidney disease rates.
"We are really making a difference in the numbers that we are seeing in kidney disease because it can be prevented or delayed," Higginbotham said.
The Kidney Mobile of the state NKF brings free health screenings to rural communities as part of the NKFSC's Kidney Early Evaluation Program. The Kidney Walk and the foundation's Kidney Cars programs are two ways through which funds are generated to support the program.
Pough said he is looking forward to working with the NKFSC in the fight against kidney disease. He said the S.C. State athletics department is planning to sell $5 Kidney Walk pinups as part of its efforts to support the campaign.
Pough said he wanted S.C. State to be as actively involved as Claflin University, which had 450 walkers last year under the leadership of Claflin graduate Akeem Boneparte. He said Boneparte showed true dedication and hopes to have the university "raise big bucks" this year.
"He was really doing a great job when I came over there and has really been instrumental to me and us in trying to get our project going," Pough said. "He's got a good deal going on over there, and their kids are really involved. We're looking forward to seeing exactly what we can do to make this a really neat project."
"If we can be effective in lessening kidney disease in our county, I think that might be even more important than beating Clemson," he added, drawing a wellspring of laughter from the audience.
The purpose of the kick-off reception is to not only present the Kidney Walk to Orangeburg but also to invite the community to learn about the walk and how people can participate. Higginbotham said online team registration and participation in fund-raisers, such as the sale of pinups, are among the ways individuals can get involved.
She said all activities for the walk will be held in Centennial Park. The Kidney Walk is planned to be a two-mile trek down Riverside and back.
"We're going to have vendors that will be in Centennial Park. We're also going to have a Kids Zone, where kids can take a bag and trick or treat at the booths and get candy and little prizes. We'll have a few little games the children can play," Higginbotham said. "People can also bring out their dogs and walk with them."
There is no fee to walk, but individuals who raise $100 will receive a Kidney Walk T-shirt. Those who raise $200 or more will get a T-shirt and qualify for other prizes.
Higginbotham said the kickoff would hopefully get individuals motivated to begin organizing their teams and planning fund-raisers.
"We want to really get people excited about it," she said. "Now is the time to really get started and get going."
To learn more about kidney disease and the 2008 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 at 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.