The 23rd annual Maryland Kidney Walk will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), held by the National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland and Delaware (NKFMDDE).
This family-friendly event draws more than 1,000 people and raises awareness about important issues surrounding kidney disease, organ donation, and the importance of early screenings and healthy lifestyles for those at risk. Proceeds will directly benefit NKFMDDE’s local patients through services, education, and research efforts.
“Funds raised from this critical opportunity will allow NKF to provide all patients with a better quality of life through research, advocacy, and increasing living kidney donation,” said Lisa Zawacki, executive director of NKFMDDE. “We need your support now more than ever; families need information and answers to stay healthy and advocate for patients who need priority access to safe dialysis and transplants.”
The day will be filled with activities and music, food, and patient-friendly fun.
Check-in begins at 9 a.m. at Erickson Field, and after a Zumba warmup led by Tisha Guthrie (an NKFMDDE board member, health and fitness professional, and transplant recipient), there will be a brief opening ceremony featuring Jordan Robertson’s family. Robertson is a 21-year-old Catonsville resident who underwent a kidney transplant this July and is the 2025 Maryland Kidney Walk Youth Ambassador.
The walk kicks off at 10 a.m., while a cadre of groups cheers them on. Youth marching band The Marching Elite will be lending musical support, while Superhero Supports, Major Offense, and Old-Line Garrison, a Star Wars costuming group, encourage walkers along their way. Participants can choose from a two-mile path or a shorter, patient-friendly path better suited for strollers and wheelchairs.
Elle Moseley, or “Chef Mo” from Cre8tiveMindz Café is also a transplant recipient, and Chef Mo will join Jimmy’s Seafood, Kona Ice, and other food trucks with refreshments available for purchase. UMBC is donating water, Shaw Orchard will donate apples, and Wawa will donate pretzels.
There will also be interactive vendor booths and the Kidney Kids Corner with face painting, arts and crafts, games, and more for children to enjoy.
Admission is free, though donations are encouraged to support and educate the community. Anyone who raises a minimum of $100 will get a commemorative Maryland Kidney Walk t-shirt. Meeting higher fundraising goals correspond with additional gifts to be awarded.
To register online, visit the Maryland Kidney Walk website. People interested in volunteering or sponsorship opportunities can call Graham Bryant at 410-494-8545, ext. 442.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, approximately 11,000 Marylanders are on dialysis and more than 3,700 are on the organ transplant waiting list. Kidney disease is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States, which translates to 35.5 million adults affected. Approximately 90 percent of those do not know they have kidney disease. Fisk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and family history.
For more information on eliminating preventable kidney disease, prioritizing the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis and transplantation, visit the National Kidney Foundation website.
