ANN ARBOR — The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan on Sunday held its annual Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo, gathering 4,500 attendees and raising $390,000 to support the foundation’s prevention programs and patient services that are offered to the 900,000 Michigan residents living with kidney disease, and many more at risk.
Walkers of all ages participated in the 1.5-mile route through the Zoo. Brandon Roux, meteorologist at Local 4 Detroit (Channel 4), welcomed walkers as the event’s master of ceremonies. Chris Villavarayan, president of Americas, Meritor Inc., and John Hiltz, president of OHM Advisors, were the honorary co-chairs of the event, and kicked off the Kidney Walk by cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially begin. Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell and his sister, Ambie, greeted fans and shared Ambie’s inspiring story of living with kidney failure. PAWS, official mascot of the Detroit Tigers, was also at the Walk.
Major Kidney Walk sponsors included Meijer, Meritor, OHM Advisors, and Greenfield Health Systems, among many others.
For more information about the Michigan Kidney Foundation’s patient services and prevention programs, to learn about other Kidney Walks, or to make a donation, call 800-482-1455 or visit nkfm.org/ZooWalk.
