DaVita Volunteers Raise More than $1,000,000 for Nationwide Kidney Education and Preventio...( 54 walks and 230-mile bike ride d...),Health

54 walks and 230-mile bike ride drive home importance of awareness and education of kidney disease, which effects nearly ten percent of all Americans

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a nationwide effort to raise money for The Kidney TRUST --- an independent public charity focusing on raising awareness of kidney disease among 20 million Americans who suffer from the disease --- DaVita, Inc., the nation's largest independent dialysis provider, announced today that its 54 Kidney Awareness Time Walk-a-thons (KAT Walk) and the Tour DaVita generated more than $1,000,000 in donations between September 12-16. By increasing awareness among the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, DaVita hopes to delay or prevent the progression to kidney failure.

The KAT Walks were held across 28 states, attracting over 4,000 participants, including dialysis patients, DaVita teammates (employees) and their friends, family and supporters. The effort was successful in raising more than $400,000. The Tour DaVita, a four-day, 230-mile bike ride along the Natchez Trace from Sheffield, Ala. to Brentwood, Tenn., involved 211 riders and raised more than $600,000 for kidney disease awareness and prevention programs.

"The Kidney TRUST is extremely grateful to DaVita for naming us the beneficiary for the inaugural Tour DaVita and for the ongoing support provided by their unique KAT Walks," said Barbara L. Lawson, President of The Kidney TRUST. "The funds raised by participants will help The Kidney TRUST expand its testing program aimed at preventing or delaying kidney disease."

According to the National Kidney Foundation, twenty million American adults -- about one in nine -- already have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be unaware of their condition. If not treated properly, CKD may regress into kidney failure. Approximately 350,000 Americans with kidney failure are on dialysis. Early detection and education can help prevent the p
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