PALMETTO BAY, Fla. — Hundreds of people came together over the weekend for a special cause that impacts millions.
March is National Kidney Month and advocates are raising awareness and hope.
And it’s a cause that hits close to home for the family of Local 10 anchor Alex Finnie.
Hundreds of people came out to Coral Reef Park in Palmetto Bay Sunday for the Miami Kidney Walk.
“Kidney disease is one of the top diseases that kills Americans. Dialysis is just a means of intervention, but not a cure, so the awareness part of this event is huge,” National Kidney Foundation of Florida CEO Savanna Lanza said.
The National Kidney Foundation hosts the walk every year and the need for awareness is more important now more than ever as one in seven U.S. adults have kidney disease and 90 percent don’t even know they have it.
“It’s a psychological challenge, it’s a physical challenge, but every day you have to get up and believe and visualize where you want to be, and believe in yourself that you can get there,” Finnie’s father, Bryan Finnie, said.
Bryan Finnie was diagnosed with kidney disease and received a transplant four years ago.
His team at Jackson Health supports the walk every year and has been with him and his family every step of the way.
“Every time I go to an event like this, I realize how fortunate I have been, but also, in the entire process, I saw other people who didn’t have the support systems that I had to get them through the kidney process, so while I celebrate what we have done, I realize we have more work to do and more people to help,” Bryan Finnie said.
Alex Finnie walks every year for her dad and for the millions of people battling kidney disease.
She said it’s always beautiful to see some of the same faces every year as they collectively share stories and raise money for research and transplantation.
“We know that about 12 people die each day waiting for a transplant, so it’s so important for us to give back to these patients,” Lanza said.
“As a kidney recipient, each year is a great year,” Bryan Finnie said. “This is our fourth year ... let’s make it a fifth year. Really excited to be here.”
To learn more about the National Kidney Foundation and how you can help, click here.
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