(Joplin, MO) – More than 120 area residents made the traditional one-mile lap around the interior of Joplin’s sprawling Northpark Mall during Freeman Health System’s 10th Annual March O’ the Kidney walk on Saturday, March 16.
The primary goal behind the event is to educate area residents about their kidneys — one step at a time.
“We do this to honor the patients who have passed from kidney disease, celebrate those currently on dialysis, and to raise funds and awareness about kidney disease,” said Teri Williams, Administrative Director of Dialysis Services at Freeman.
One hundred percent of all proceeds go directly to the Freeman Dialysis Patient Assistance Fund, which financially helps dialysis patients suffering from chronic kidney disease with additional costs from medications, nutritional supplements, medical equipment, and transportation to and from life-saving appointments.
“Every penny stays within our department,” Williams said.
This assistance is absolutely crucial for patients who must go on dialysis. These lengthy treatments — four hours a day, three days a week — make it difficult for them to maintain full-time jobs.
“We just want to help,” Williams continued, “and this is a way we can do that to help them reach the optimal level of health and function.”
Many of the participants wore matching t-shirts or held up signs of family members fighting the disease. Dan Turner, Jr., for example, walked in honor of his late father, who participated in the first-ever March O’ the Kidney but passed away prior to the second one.
“Our whole family now walks together, every year, in his memory,” he said. “It’s a family cause.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy kidneys filter the body’s blood every 30 minutes, removing wastes and toxins. When kidneys begin to fail, excess waste remains inside the body. That can potentially cause additional health problems such as heart disease or stroke.
For more information about Freeman Nephrology & Dialysis Center, visit them at 932 E. 34th Street or call them at 417.347.8570.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center — the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services — as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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