Kidney Health Australia
We are the peak body for kidney health in Australia. For over 50 years, we have been providing trustworthy and up-to-date resources and support to help people manage their kidney health.
We strive to create a healthier community through increased awareness and early detection of kidney disease. We connect kidney patients to vital resources and services to help them manage their condition and achieve a better quality of life.
The importance of Red Socks Run
With 1.8 million Australians unaware they’re living with signs of kidney disease, your support has never been more critical.
Kidney disease can affect anyone at any time and is still a life-long incurable disease. With most of the signs of kidney disease going unnoticed until the kidneys are close to failure, finding out you have kidney disease can often be too late.
By joining us this October, you can help bring awareness to kidney disease and raise much needed funds.
So, get on your feet, pull up your socks, and Red Socks Run 60km for kidney health.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease? (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to all conditions of the kidney affecting the filtration and removal of waste from the blood for three months or or more.
There are 5 stages of CKD, with Stages 1-2 being mild disease and stage 5 referred to as ‘kidney failure’ which people require dialysis or a transplant to survive.
Living with CKD has a profound impact on the health and quality of life of Australians, with those on dialysis reliant on a machine to keep them alive.
Australians undergoing dialysis spend an average of 60 hours per month strapped to a life-saving machine that cleans their blood of toxins.
Key Challenges
66
On average, 66 people die a day with kidney disease
1 in 10
1 in 10 Australians have signs of kidney disease. This increased to 1 in 5 in First Nations Australians
90%
90% of kidney function can be lost without any symptoms
1 in 6
1 in 6 Hospitalisations are kidney disease related
Your Impact
Support at every stage
Your hard work will mean that people diagnosed with kidney disease are not alone on their journey. By fundraising, you will support the Kidney Helpline and Resource Hub ensuring people have somewhere to turn to for trusted and reliable information.
Life-changing services
Your fundraising will help fund life-changing services like the Big Red Kidney Buses, providing holiday dialysis; the Kidney Transplant Houses, providing somewhere to stay during kidney transplant; and the Kidney Kids and youth Program, providing specialist support to children and youth living with kidney disease.
Research that transforms the future
Your fundraising will help fund research into better treatments and one day a cure, helping to transform the future of kidney disease.
Carla's Story
Carla had only just turned 30 when she went for a check up with a dietitian. They suggested she see a GP for her impared renal function.
"After a referral to a nephrologist and a biopsy and other tests, I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy, an autoimmune condition that causes my immune system to attack my kidneys."
12 months after being diagnosed, Carla started dialysis as she had total kidney failure.
"Being on dialysis was exceptionally difficult. A dialysis machine is not a complete kidney replacement. So slowly but surely, other parts of my body began to decline."
“When you first get diagnosed it is a dark and scary place but thankfully Kidney Health Australia were there to support. They are an incredible lifeline for people like me.”
"14 months after starting dialysis, a minor miracle happened which saw me receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. The surgery was a complete success, and my kidney function has been exactly where you would expect it to be since. It has been nearly 2 years since that lucky day."
Harry's Story
Harry was born with one kidney that only worked at about 50%. This was due to a large 1 kilo tumour that began growing before he was born. As a result, Harry had to endure intensive chemotherapy.
In 2012, Harry started experiencing kidney failure due to the damage his kidney had endured over the course of his life.
However, in 2015, Harry's dad, Brendon was finally able to donate a kidney. The kidney transplant was a success.
A year to the day after the transplant, Harry and his dad and I completed a triathlon!
Lesley's Story
Lesley was diagnosed with kidney disease when she was 29 years old, not long after she got home from her honeymoon.
“I noticed that my skin was paler than usual and my ankles and face were puffy. I thought I had anemia so I went to my GP for a blood test. They called back to say my test results were abnormal and then said…
Your kidneys are failing and there is an ambulance on its way’ describes Lesley.
Since being diagnosed, Lesley has been on dialysis for almost 11 years and had over 100 visits to the hospital, while she waits for a transplant.
Thanks to your support Kidney Health Australia can be there to support Lesley every step of her journey.
“When you first get diagnosed it is a dark and scary place but thankfully Kidney Health Australia were there to support. They are an incredible lifeline for people like me.”
Declans's Story
Around two years ago, Declan was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure. At the time, Declan was a fit and healthy 23-year-old, so the diagnosis was a shock to the whole family.
Last September, Declan’s dad, David bravely stepped in to be a kidney donor. Sadly, three days after the transplant, Declan was rushed back to surgery. The Grant family were heartbroken to learn that the transplant had failed.
Declan has since commenced haemodialysis at home, which so far is having a positive impact on his quality of life and general health.
There are certainly limitations on what Declan can do now, compared to in the past,” says David.
“There’s the time that dialysis takes, but also the restrictions on lifting and the lack of energy that holds him back from doing things he’d love to do more of, like going to the football. That said, he has adapted to his situation in an amazingly positive way.”
For more information, visit kidney.org.au
