Bamberg resident Gregg Clark is ready to strap on his walking shoes for a cause that is near and dear to his heart.

Clark is a living kidney donor who donated one of his kidneys to his ailing brother, John, who lost his kidney function in 1999. He also watched his grandmother go through sometimes difficult dialysis treatments in her battle against kidney disease, a battle she eventually lost.

Approximately one in three individuals in Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties have kidney disease, a statistic that organizers of the upcoming walk are determined to reduce by raising awareness and research funds.

The National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina is rallying Orangeburg and surrounding communities for its fourth annual Kidney Walk, which will be held at Edisto Memorial Gardens on Thursday, Oct. 22. Registration for the two-mile walk is set for 5 p.m., followed by the walk at 6 p.m.

"I feel like I have a vested interest in the cause because I had a grandmother that died from kidney disease. I saw what it did to her," said Clark, who has been involved with the Kidney Walk since its inception. "My brother was a sergeant with the Highway Patrol, and I saw it take him in no time from somebody that was in control to somebody who couldn't even pick up his young children out of the car and carry them inside. It happened real fast. That's why I'm extremely interested in the walk."

"I decided to do the first walk in Charleston. I was on that committee, and it was an exciting thing," said Clark, who now looks forward to participating in Orangeburg's fourth annual walk and disseminating information among walkers about becoming organ donors.

"Over 90 percent of the people (waiting) for an organ in South Carolina are waiting for a kidney," said Mary Higginbotham, NKFSC communications and legislative affairs coordinator and director of the local walk. "So, being a living donor or an organ donor after death is important. We encourage people to think about what a gift it is."

Clark's mother, Nona Clark of Bamberg, said she and fellow members of the Royal Red Hatters Club will once again participate in the Kidney Walk. They've already sold pinups and held plant sales and are now ready to don their royal red and purple for this year's event.

The Kidney Walk is a two-mile trek down Riverside Drive and back. All activities for the walk, including vendor booth sales and a performance from 2009 Orangeburg Idol Eden Graves, will be held in Centennial Park. There will also be a Kids Zone, where kids can play games and trick-or-treat to receive candy and small prizes.

"We do want to encourage children to wear their Halloween costume," Higginbotham said. "We're looking to have a great Kids Zone this year. It is going to be held rain or shine."

There is no fee to walk, but individuals who raise $100 will receive a Kidney Walk T-shirt. Individuals who raise $200 will also get a Kidney Walk sweatshirt. There will also be a T-shirt contest in which teams can participate. Each shirt -- short- or long-sleeved -- must include the words "Kidney Walk" and be turned in by 4:45 p.m. at the T-shirt contest booth on the day of the walk.

Claflin University president Dr. Henry Tisdale is serving as honorary chairman of this year's walk. Tom Dandridge, president and CEO of the Regional Medical Center, serves as corporate chairman. The RMC is presenting sponsor of the walk.

Higginbotham said proceeds from the Kidney Walk are used for a multitude of programs and services, including emergency medical assistance for dialysis patients and to support of the NKFSC's prevention and early detection programs. The Kidney Mobile of the state NKF, for example, brings free health screenings to rural communities as part of the NKFSC's Kidney Early Evaluation Program.

Higginbotham said it is not too late to sign up for the walk. Individuals can still register by calling the NKFSC at 1-800-488-2277, by visiting kidneywalk.org or on site the day of the walk.

To learn more about kidney disease or for more information about the 2009 Kidney Walk, call 1-800-488-2277 or visit kidneywalk.org. More kidney disease information can also be found at 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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