Local radio personalities and community advocates Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton, with HD Community Enterprise, are raising awareness about a silent crisis in the community — kidney disease.
They’re hosting a Kidney Disease Awareness event on Wednesday, March. 25 aimed at educating the public about the condition, which is often referred to as a “silent crisis” because it can progress without symptoms to advanced stages.
According to a 2022 report from the American Kidney Fund, there are about 12,000 people in Wisconsin living with kidney failure. Around 7,000 are on dialysis and around 4,000 people are living with a kidney transplant.
The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Concordia 27, 831 N. 27th St.
Featured guests include Michael Crowley, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation, and former judge Derek Mosley, now the director at Marquette University Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research & Civic Education.
Crowley is a kidney donor and Mosley is a kidney transplant recipient.
As a two-time kidney transplant recipient, Murchison has a passion for the topic and is excited to uplift and inspire others to lead a healthy lifestyle.
“This issue is close to me,” she said. “The event is an opportunity to inform people about what’s going on.”
‘People don’t know until it’s too late’
Walton said the evening will focus on helping people learn more about and be aware of kidney disease.
“A lot of times, people don’t know until it’s too late so we want to encourage getting screened and understanding prevention because this issue is prevalent in our community,” Walton said. “The main thing is raising awareness around a very silent crisis in our community.”
The program will feature discussion between kidney transplant recipients, living donors and nephrologists, offering both medical expertise and personal perspectives. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about early detection, risk factors, prevention and treatment options.
Mosley will deliver the keynote address, sharing his personal journey.
Being proactive
Murchison said a key message is about the importance of community education and proactive health awareness. Informational materials will be provided, and light refreshments will be available.
Murchison encourages residents to attend, bring family and friends, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about kidney health and the impact of organ donation.
The event is open to the public, but registration is required. More information is available at www.hdcommunityenterprise.com or by calling 414-435-1125.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
