Welcome.
I’m writing this as we’re about to publish our annual report and accounts, a chance to reflect on the last financial year, during which we were able to invest over £11m in vital research, thanks to your amazing support. You’ll learn about some of that research, and the people it could help, in this latest issue of Update, brought to you in a new, compact format.
Boost for rare diseases
Our cover star, Olly and his sister Etta have a powerful story (pages 8-9), reminding us of the enormous impact kidney disease can have on young people and their families.
Contact the editorial team Kidney Research UK, Stuart House, City Road, Peterborough PE1 1QF 0300 303 1100 pressoffice@kidneyresearchuk.org
Website: www.kidneyresearchuk.org
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Research benefits can take far longer to reach children, which is why work at the new LifeArc-Kidney Research UK Centre for Rare Diseases (page 7) will first focus on children before upscaling into adult patients.
Support for you
Supporters often tell us how difficult it is to know where to turn for help. This is why we’re sharing a new regular section in our magazine –My kidneys, my health – to help you access the support you may need (pages 18-21).
We hope you find this issue useful and that you like the new, compact format. Do let us know what you have found the most helpful, using our contact details below.
Happy reading
Sandra Currie, Chief executive
Cover photo Meet Olly. He and his sister Etta, who have both gone through kidney failure, feature in our Christmas appeal. Read their story on pages 8-9.
Everyone must have a fair chance at good kidney health .
We are calling for urgent action to address the social and economic inequalities that put some people at greater risk of kidney disease and can prevent patients from accessing appropriate care and treatment.
In a new report, we show inequalities due to age, sex, education, location or lack of wealth still persist, despite widespread awareness of the barriers some people face.
The report, Time To Act: A New ReviewofKidneyHealthInequalities, is authored by an academic, clinical and patient team and comes five years after the charity’s previous report on kidney health inequalities outlined recommendations for change in clinical and research practice. The new review sets out the limited progress since 2018, impacting people’s health and risk of disease.
The updated evidence confirms some communities are still impacted more by kidney disease than others, and disease progresses faster than others. The report concludes that quality of care can vary and that a lack of focus on some groups of people in research studies means that their needs and experiences are overlooked.
issues. Eradicating unjust kidney health inequalities is an urgent priority and must become everyone’s responsibility, so that we can deliver true change.
“Explicitly including kidney disease in government health strategies, programmes and action plans addressing health inequalities, prevention, long-term conditions, multimorbidity and screening could make an enormous difference.”
Our trustee Professor Liz Lightstone said: “Wherever possible we will seek to fund research that tackles these
To read the report, visit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/ research/kidney-health-inequalities
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Using healthcare data to understand and prevent rare and inherited kidney diseases.
In May, Kidney Research UK hosted a workshop on the prevention of kidney disease, at which clinical lecturer Dr Lucy Plumb highlighted the importance of using large sets of data to help look at risk factors for rare and inherited kidney diseases in children and young people.
Healthcare data is the information related to a person and their medical conditions. When used in a careful way, trends and patterns in healthcare data can help our understanding of who is at risk of kidney disease and provide information about access to treatments and best-practice care.
Resources like the UK Renal Registry, Kidney Research
UK’s Data Science Catalyst in partnership with the British Heart Foundation and the NHS Transplant Registry all enable
researchers to access data from renal centres and hospital laboratories across the UK.
Lucy and the team are currently using data from the renal and transplant registries on a project funded by the charity to investigating whether gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors affect a young patient’s access to a kidney transplant.
Dr Lucy Plumb
We still have important gaps in our understanding and data can help us to identify if there are differences in access to treatment for UK children. We can then begin to understand why they are happening and come up with solutions to address them.
Dr Lucy Plumb
Learning from extreme environments – kidneys in space.
A recent publication in Nature Communications has highlighted the work of Kidney Research UKfunded researchers Professor Stephen (Ben) Walsh and Dr Keith Siew from the London Tubular Centre, based at the UCL Department of Renal Medicine, London.
Scientists have known for some time that certain diseases, including kidney stones, are more frequent in people who have been on space missions. The higher levels of radiation found outside the earth’s protective atmosphere and lack of gravity may be involved. As well as helping future astronauts, the study helped provide insights for regular kidney patients.
The researchers looked at the impact of space-conditions on kidney structure and function. Results showed changes to the kidney tubules (responsible for maintaining healthy levels of calcium and salt), loss of kidney volume and permanent scarring. Looking at changes to the kidneys at the cellular level may open the door for new preventative measures and treatment approaches.
Dr Aisling McMahon, executive director of research at Kidney Research UK said:
“This study provides new information on the impact of space travel on the kidneys, and also opens the door to finding out how to protect kidneys from more common stresses such as radiation treatments for cancer and damage from kidney stones.
“We were deeply saddened to learn that Professor Walsh, who helped lead this research, died in September following a long illness. Ben was a valued member of our research grants panel and led a very successful and productive research group. His legacy will live on in his work.”
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Left, a kidney sample from ground control. Right, a sample from a kidney that had been to the space station for one month.
Targeting ‘zombie cells’ to stop kidney transplants failing .
Professor David Ferenbach from the University of Edinburgh is leading a new project examining whether cells in transplanted kidneys that have stopped functioning normally could hold the key to stopping these donated organs from failing.
Funded by Kidney Research UK and the Stoneygate Trust, the £250,000 study is one of seven projects aimed at transforming kidney transplantation made possible through the Professor Michael Nicholson Research Project Awards, which total £1.5m.
The project will investigate the role of senescent cells, sometimes deemed ‘zombie cells’, (cells which have stopped dividing and no longer contribute to repair and growth), in transplant failure. David and his team have previously shown that having more senescent cells inside a kidney worsens scarring and impedes function over time.
Together with his collaborators Drs Mark Harber and Rhys Evans, from University College London, David will look at kidney transplant samples and use
new technologies to understand more about the signals between senescent cells, the immune system and scar-producing cells which could represent potential targets for future treatments. They will establish whether particular patterns in senescent cell presence, location or behaviour can predict how well the kidney will work in the long term.
A kidney transplant is an amazing gift, yet patients frequently tell us the fear of their new kidney failing looms large, and sadly, it does become a reality for some. This is a really novel approach towards finding new solutions and potentially transforming patients’ lives. Dr Aisling McMahon Executive director of research, Kidney Research UK
Professor David Ferenbach
Children are the first focus of new £10m research centre.
Thousands of people living with rare kidney diseases will get access to improved diagnostics, treatments and potentially cures, thanks to the creation of a new research centre co-funded by Kidney Research UK and medical charity LifeArc.
The LifeArc-Kidney Research UK Centre for Rare Kidney Diseases has launched to provide urgent focus and resource. It will unite researchers, patients and healthcare professionals and build on strong established resources, including the national renal sample bio-resource (NURTuRE) and care guidelines.
Led by Dr Louise Oni, senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool and consultant paediatric nephrologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the new centre will signal the start of a transformation in all 13 of the UK’s children’s kidney centres, embedding a culture of research by connecting the systems to accelerate discoveries and advance the treatment of rare kidney diseases.
The new translational centre is jointly funded by LifeArc, who are investing £9.4m, in partnership with Kidney Research UK. We are contributing
an additional £1m to be used to support the work of the centre over the next five years.
Dr Louise Oni says: “This UK-wide project aims to create a culture of constant learning to bring rapid advances to patients of all ages living with kidney diseases. The project will start by focusing on children with rare kidney diseases to attempt to halt the journey to kidney failure and then upscale into adult patients.”
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Dr Louise Oni
Olly’s Christmas wish for his sister Etta is a new kidney.
Four-year-old Olly and his little sister, Etta (two), have an extremely rare genetic condition, which has caused both siblings to suffer kidney failure. They’ve spent much of their young lives in hospital, receiving dialysis treatment, and fighting to survive. Their story features in our Christmas appeal – which you can donate to now – funding research that could transform their lives.
Olly became the smallest transplant recipient in Northern Ireland at the age of three, when his grandmother, Michelle, donated a kidney. However, Etta is still receiving haemodialysis in Belfast four days a week, after being born with just 18% kidney function.
Olly and Etta’s mum, Dionne Cartmill, says: “Olly’s transplant was made possible by research, and it’s important we keep funding projects to help children, like our Etta, who are still waiting.
“The number of kids with kidney disease is shocking and there are so many research questions yet to be answered that could improve lives pre and post-transplant.
“I want Olly and Etta to lead happier lives, with transplants that last longer, anti-rejection medications with less side-effects, and the option to start families without worrying about their children inheriting this disease.
“Life with kidney disease has been hard from day one. Before Olly’s transplant he had no energy and was miserable. He was constantly thirsty due to the restricted fluid intake and cried all the time. He was in pain; it was no quality of life for him being on dialysis for over two years.
Transplant was transformative
“His transplant was very high-risk because he was so small. They had to cut him open down the middle like a book. Thankfully it has been successful, and you ought to see the difference in him. He’s developing so well and is finally living life.
“His first words to me and his dad, Neil, when he came out of surgery, were: ‘Now it’s Etta’s turn’. Her health is a major worry, and she continues to go downhill. We need Etta to grow to ten kilograms to have a transplant, but her weight has not increased since April.
“They’ve both missed countless milestones. Etta has only just started to sit up and can’t roll over, let alone walk. Like Olly, Etta has a feeding tube.
“It is awful to see them suffer. Olly used to try and drink his bathwater because he was that thirsty, but we had to stop him to prevent him being in more pain. It’s very, very difficult when they are so distressed.
“Etta was the most content, happy baby ever when she was born. Now she just sticks to me and needs comfort all the time. We pray that things will improve for her, like they have for Olly, if she can have a transplant.”
Together we can improve life for Olly, Etta, and others like them, by funding research. Visit our website for details of our new project focused on rare diseases, which shows what is possible when our supporters come together to donate.
Help us prevent families from spending precious years worrying about their health: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/ olly-and-etta
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Community finger-prick testing research called upon for urgent solution.
Dr Rouvick Gama from King’s College London is investigating the most accurate way to measure kidney function in people from different ethnicities, and whether community finger-prick kidney function testing can improve optimisation and monitoring of chronic kidney disease. His work recently helped plug urgent gaps in blood testing after patients were left in need when cyber attacks knocked out pathology services in London hospitals in June 2024.
Kidney patients were particularly vulnerable after the cyber attacks prevented laboratories from being able to process blood tests, save and share results. Recently transplanted patients are often tested three times a week and not having access to these carries increased risk as abnormalities may not be detected. Rouvick and his fellow researchers saw a way to help. They used early insights from previously validated results from Rouvick’s Kidney Research UK-funded study to provide their finger-prick testing technology as an alternative, temporary solution, giving patients blood test results within minutes.
Dr Rouvick Gama, King’s College London
Rouvick was quick to praise his fellow researchers who were eager to get involved: “We were there every day organising a schedule and completing tests. There was so much support from the clinical team when prioritising who needed testing so we could make the whole set-up work. We were able to provide a service to get people who really needed these tests the results to continue their treatment plan safely.”
Possible permanent solution
Normal service with traditional testing methods has now resumed, but Rouvick’s research continues to see if a new approach is needed on a more permanent basis. Quick and accurate testing is vital to help with early diagnosis, to monitor disease and to safely monitor changes to medications. Rouvick is working to develop more accessible testing in community and primary care settings for people with early-stage kidney disease.
Currently healthcare providers measure creatinine, a substance in the blood that increases with kidney disease, which they then use to calculate overall kidney function, called estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The eGFR is worked out using an equation involving creatinine, age and sex, however the accuracy of eGFR results may vary among ethnic groups. If kidney function is measured incorrectly it can result in delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, or patients being given the wrong treatments.
One solution may not fit all
Rouvick is comparing kidney function tests from across the UK with new and old equations to work out which ones work best across all ethnicities.
Once the accuracy of finger-prick kidney function testing is assessed and compared to standard blood testing in people with different backgrounds, Rouvick will work with local GP practices to train nurses and pharmacists to use the finger-prick tests. He will also work with patients to develop materials to inform people about their kidney function, measurements and testing.
Rouvick’s work is supported by a clinical training fellowship grant of £200,000 from Kidney Research UK.
Rouvick and his colleagues at King’s College London
Will the new UK government address the diseasekidneyhealth emergency?
The Westminster election might already feel a long time ago, but we want to thank the 1,100 people who took part in our ‘Vote Kidney’ election campaign calling for our politicians to do more to help end kidney disease. Thanks to all those who used our online tool to email their local candidates and ask them to pledge to help kidney patients, we have an important swell of support amongst our newly-elected parliamentarians to build on.
The case for an explicit policy focus on kidney disease is beyond doubt; kidney disease is a public health emergency. Our 2023 report “Kidney disease – a UK public health emergency” shows that by 2033, 7.6 million people in the UK are predicted to have chronic kidney disease and without timely intervention, demand for treating kidney failure could overwhelm the NHS. Dialysis costs over £1billion annually, and capacity may need to increase by nearly 400% by 2033 to meet demand.
We urge the Government to ensure kidney disease is prioritised in the forthcoming NHS 10-year plan, for the sake of the estimated 7.2 million people currently living with kidney disease in the UK, and those at risk of developing it.
Sandra Currie, Chief executive Kidney Research UK
Is the Labour Party ‘thinking kidney’?
Aspects of the Labour Party’s election manifesto showed promise, including the emphasis on early diagnosis and prevention. We identified this as a priority area in the Kidney Research UK manifesto, with several opportunities to make a difference:
• Increase the number of annual blood and urine tests
• Increase the uptake of new medicines designed to slow kidney decline
• Improve the collection of consistent data on patient ethnicity and socioeconomic status (which are indicators of increased risk)
• Enhance education for healthcare professionals
• Increase the role for community pharmacists in frontline care.
As the manifesto stated, we agree fully that “prevention will always be better and cheaper than a cure.”
Will there be a better NHS for kidney patients?
Having made these pledges, the new government swiftly commissioned an independent
investigation into the NHS by Lord Darzi, to which we submitted evidence explaining the urgent need to prioritise kidney disease.
Whilst Lord Darzi’s resulting report delivered a damning assessment of the state of the NHS, we were encouraged that it echoed the experiences of many people living with kidney disease and their families, and mirrored issues we have been actively campaigning on. Kidney disease was not specifically named as an area requiring urgent strategic action, which was disappointing. However, the review highlights many opportunities for improvement where Kidney Research UK and the wider kidney community are well placed to help find solutions, including in prevalence and prevention, mental health support, the enormous potential of technology and research and in tackling health inequalities.
All eyes are now on the preparations for the development of the new NHS 10-year plan. We anticipate there will be opportunities to participate in the consultation that will feed into this and will be providing tools and resources to help you have your say.
Sign up to our regular e-newsletter to hear more: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/ sign-up-talk-kidney
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Transplant research in action .
Thanks to you, our supporters, we’ve pledged to fund a number of new projects in the last few months. Here’s just a selection, with thoughts from some of our readers about the difference they will make.
Reducing inflammation and rejection in donor kidneys
Dr Maithili Mehta from the University of Cambridge has received a £300,000 Professor Michael Nicholson Award to look at methods of reducing rejection in donor kidneys.
Up to one in five kidney transplant recipients experience acute rejection –when the recipient’s immune system recognises the new kidney as ‘foreign’ and damages it as part of a protective response. Immunosuppressive drugs help protect the new kidney, but these medications also increase susceptibility to infections.
Maithili and the team will look at alternative methods to increase the life expectancy of donor kidneys and reduce the need for immunosuppressant medication. They will investigate whether treating donor kidneys to reduce inflammation before they are transplanted will make them more likely to work better and less likely to trigger an immune response.
After removing white blood cells from the donor kidney (which stimulate the immune system), the team will then
test drugs that block a molecule that causes inflammation.
If successful, these interventions will reduce the time lag between the kidney being transplanted and it starting to work, reduce the rate of transplant rejection, and potentially improve long-term kidney transplant function. This may also mean that in the future, patients can take lower levels of immunosuppressive drugs.
Dr
Maithili Mehta
Having experienced kidney rejection and the ongoing risks of a weakened immune system, I believe this could be a significant breakthrough for the transplant community. This research has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for transplant recipients and reduce the challenges they face every day. Richard Bennett
Tissue from a human donor kidney treated with machine perfusion.
The impact on mental health of a negative outcome following a kidney transplant
Emma Aitken from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow has been awarded a grant of £5,300 from the Andy Cole Fund to investigate the impact that complications following a kidney transplant can have on the mental health of patients, families and surgeons.
This research aims to support mental health and improve the transplant experience. A kidney transplant is usually a promising and positive experience, but in some cases, there can be unexpected problems such as early failure or rejection. These are referred to as adverse events (AEs) and can impact a person’s emotional wellbeing.
Using questionnaires and interviews, Emma will explore the concerns and challenges of patients who have experienced an AE, as well as the impact on their families and surgeons. By exploring quality of life, feelings of regret and attitude towards future decision making, results will be used to make recommendations for support interventions post-transplant surgery.
Understanding individual patient experiences is important for the development of tailored support for patients and their healthcare providers.
Psychological support for people with kidney disease is lacking. This research will give patients and their families a voice in shaping the future of that care. Emma Aitken
I await ‘that call’ for a kidney. When the phone rings there are mixed emotions. Excitement that I may be free from dialysis but also an awareness, particularly after a failed transplant, that things may not go smoothly. The importance of mental health support at this time cannot be overstated. Jackie Yates
Developing a safe and effective vaccine against cytomegalovirus
A £210,000 paediatric research grant has been awarded to Dr Matthew Reeves from University College London to help the development of a safe and effective vaccine against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in at-risk groups including kidney transplant patients and babies.
CMV is a common virus which can usually be controlled by the immune system. Transplant patients are more vulnerable to CMV infection because the medications used to protect their new kidney also impact how well their immune system can fight infection. A vaccine could protect these vulnerable groups.
Previous trials of CMV vaccines involving kidney transplant patients have shown that around half of patients can be protected through vaccination using one single protein that fights infection, called an antibody.
Matthew and his team are aiming to make a safe and effective vaccine that provides a good level of protection. Using laboratory techniques, they will look at the immune response from vaccinated transplant patients to identify the specific parts that will be
critical for an effective vaccine for patients with a compromised immune system.
Transplanted kidneys are at risk from viral infections – including cytomegalovirus – which can result in major complications post-transplant. Our research hopes to develop a vaccine which we can give to patients prior to transplant to protect the donated kidney and its recipient from the consequences of CMV disease. Dr Matthew Reeves
As a patient who received a transplant in childhood and adulthood, I have sadly experienced CMV. It causes huge upset for the patient, but also for parents of young patients, who feel helpless. A vaccine would mean less worry and help the longitude of transplants and quality of life for patients. Fez Awan
The two middle cells have been infected with CMV. The two outer cells are not infected with CMV.
Getting diagnosed
My kidneys my health
Having access to expert information, tips and resources is vital in making decisions about your kidney health and navigating the challenges of kidney disease. In this section, you will learn more about spotting signs of kidney disease, taking care of your kidneys, making choices about dialysis, and managing your mental health.
Every day 20 people in the UK develop kidney failure. Many people with kidney problems are unaware, as there are often no symptoms until this becomes advanced.
Your kidneys are vital to your health. If they are not functioning, you could need life-limiting treatments such as dialysis.
I was experiencing symptoms of kidney disease such as cramps and itchy skin, but I didn’t realise what it was.
My diagnosis in 2019 was sudden. It was shocking to discover I only had 4% kidney function. I needed dialysis immediately.
Nick Angell, 42, from Swindon
Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and family history increase your risk of kidney disease. Your GP, nurse or pharmacist can speak with you about regular urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) tests to monitor this.
Blood or protein in your urine can be a sign of kidney problems, so take notice if your urine appears frothy or you need to wee often. Other symptoms include tiredness, breathlessness, swollen limbs, and weight loss.
It’s important to check your kidney health and know if you are at risk. You can do this via our quick and easy health check tool: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/ kidney-health-information
Optimising my health
It can be difficult to know where to start in looking after your kidney health, particularly if you have recently been diagnosed with kidney disease.
That’s why we’ve created our free Kidney Kit which is designed to encourage patients to think about diet and exercise. It is a simple introduction to different aspects of wellbeing that can help you take control of your health.
The Kidney Kit includes delicious kidney friendly recipes, videos full of top tips from our incredible kidney community, and links to Kidney Beam, the online platform offering bespoke live and on demand exercise and movement classes for kidney patients.
Access to health information is important, and we know people come to us as a trusted source for advice and information about kidney disease. That’s why our health information materials, including our Kidney Kit, are all corroborated by experts.
Being diagnosed with kidney disease at 30 years old was a big shock. I felt like I had no control over anything, and my kidney function kept going down.
Exercising regularly has helped with my health and confidence, giving me back some control. My weight has gone down, and my kidney function has declined more slowly.
Grant, from Edinburgh
Get your free Kidney Kit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-kit
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Choosing the right treatment for me
Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys have almost completely stopped functioning. Being told you need dialysis can be scary and it can be daunting to make decisions about which type of dialysis treatment is best for you.
There are four types of dialysis – centre haemodialysis, home haemodialysis, automated peritoneal dialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
Each comes with different advantages and disadvantages depending on a person’s lifestyle.
Starting dialysis was daunting but I’ve found home haemodialysis best fits my lifestyle. It provides me with more flexibility as a hybrid worker and I try my best to fit my dialysis around my life, rather than dialysis dictating what I do.
Lynzie Stephenson 40, from County Durham
For others, different forms of dialysis can be a better fit, and it is important people have accurate information to help make an informed decision.
Our Dialysis Decision Aid has been designed with healthcare professionals and patient experts, to help you navigate this information and consider which treatment option is best for you and your loved ones.
Looking after my mental health
It is normal to experience a wide range of emotions living with kidney disease. If you are finding things hard, you are not alone.
My diagnosis blindsided my family and I’ve been receiving dialysis for four years now.
Kidney disease is a heavy weight on your shoulders. You constantly have it on your mind and dialysis can rule your life. Staying positive is hard, so it’s important to be conscious of your mental health and stay connected with people.
Grant Anderson
40, from West Lothian, Scotland
It can also be beneficial to reach out for additional support. Your renal healthcare team or GP can be a good first point of contact.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so please make use of available support:
Mind website and infoline
Visit www.mind.org.uk/ information-support/ or call 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm – excluding bank holidays) for mental health resources and guidance on where to get further support.
Samaritans free helpline
Call 116 123 for mental health crisis support (24 hours a day, 365 days a year).
National Kidney Federation free UK helpline
Call 0800 169 09 36 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) for specialist emotional and practical support for kidney patients.
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A huge thank you !
Thank you to all our Team Kidney heroes for your help in our mission to end kidney disease. We can’t do it without you!
Extraordinary fundraisers
Joanne Wallis, 39 from Derby, embodies the amazing spirit of our fundraisers, taking the grief from a devastating loss and channelling it into raising money that will make the future brighter for kidney patients.
After losing her 49-year-old brother, David, who had kidney disease, in November 2023, Joanne has taken on a series of challenges in his memory. From skydiving and swimming, to walking the March March and
London Bridges events, Joanne has raised over £8,500 for our work at Kidney Research UK.
A huge thank you to Joanne and everyone else who has pushed themselves to raise money for research into kidney disease. RAISED £8,500
Donate to Kidney Research UK visit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/donate
Spudman shares his story
With over 3.5 million followers on Tik Tok, Spudman – real name Ben Newman – has gained fans across the world, posting videos about running his jacket potato business and living with kidney disease.
RAISED £11,000
Ben’s kidneys failed in 2010 and after three unsuccessful transplants due to recurring membranous nephropathy, the 39-year-old from Tamworth is facing a lifetime of dialysis treatment.
“Dialysis is challenging but we don’t let the kidney problems define us,” says his fiancée, Sarah. We want to thank Ben, Sarah and their family for speaking openly about their experiences and raising more than £11,000 for future research.
Ben says: “I try to use our online popularity to raise awareness and show people that even though treatment is difficult, you can live a fulfilling life with kidney disease. People send messages and come to the trailer to say they appreciate me sharing a more positive perspective.”
Bridges walks success
Thank you to the 2,400 supporters who joined our annual bridges walks in Newcastle, London and Glasgow, raising more than £175,000 for research into kidney disease.
ITV Tyne, Tees and Border weather presenter, Ross Hutchinson, and his dad, Robin, took part in Newcastle on 16 June. When Robin’s kidneys failed in 2022, Ross stepped up to donate his kidney to his dad. The surgery was successful, and both Ross
and Robin are doing well two years later.
Ross says: “I wanted to join the walk to show that you can come out of the other side as a live organ donor without being weakened by it, and the response to our story has been amazing.”
We would like to thank Ross and Robin for sharing their story, which helped shine the media spotlight on kidney disease and on our bridges walks.
Volunteers making a difference
Our volunteers are invaluable at our walks, and we want to thank them for giving their time and energy to end kidney disease.
Andrew Smyth, from East Grinstead, first took part in the London Bridges Walk in 2005, after donating a kidney to his dad, David, the previous year. He is one of many volunteers who welcomed supporters to the London Bridges Walk on 14 July, creating a positive atmosphere and handing out medals.
Andrew says: “I’m always keen to do whatever I can to make a difference for people facing the same diagnosis as my dad.”
Scotland fights kidney disease
The Afzal family – dad, Mohammed Asim, mum, Noor, and their twins Aliah and Zia –were among those crossing the Clyde at the Glasgow Bridges Walk on 18 August.
After Asim’s kidneys failed in 2012, Noor chose to donate her kidney, saving him from a prolonged period of dialysis.
Asim says: “My wonderful, beautiful wife gave me my life back. The Glasgow Bridges Walk was the least I could do and a powerful statement in putting an end to kidney disease.”
Thank you to the Afzal family and everyone who participated in our bridges walks. We’ll see you again in 2025!
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Singing plumber
Plumber Kev Crane was signed to a record deal when his talent was discovered by a producer, who overheard Kev singing as he worked in his bathroom. Kev took his music on tour in the summer of 2024 and has donated part of his earnings to kidney research.
Kev also gave his time to perform at our bridges walks in Newcastle and London, inspiring crowds of fundraisers to complete their walking challenges.
Mike’s 50th kidneyversary
Mike Shepherdson marked an extraordinary milestone in 2024, as he joined a rare group of patients whose kidney transplant has lasted 50 years.
Kev, 51, says: “I was heartbroken when my mum died after battling kidney disease. I’m raising money and awareness in her memory.”
Mike, 63, says: “Transplants in children were often unsuccessful in the seventies. Having my kidney for five years would have been good, reaching 50 is surreal. I’ve been able to live without dialysis since I was 13.
“It frightens me that, despite advances in medication and treatment, little has changed for young people with kidney disease. I want to make a difference.”
We thank Mike for his fantastic contribution as lead patient representative for the NURTuRE bioresource project.
Thanking our volunteers
Our volunteer community ambassadors strive to improve life for kidney patients. Doug and Annemarie Kerr run ‘Compassionate Kidney Catch-ups’ from a stall in Plymouth town centre.
Annemarie says: “We’re passionate about helping people feel less alone, facilitating peer support, and sharing information in a safe space. It’s reassuring and uplifting for everyone.”
Become our next big winner
Congratulations to the winners of our raffle prizes, including Wayne Clarke who won £1,000.
Wayne says: “When I found out I’d won, it really brightened my day. I would encourage everyone to play and help kidney patients.”
You can play our Christmas 2024 raffle now. www.raffleplayer.com/ kidneyresearchuk
Diary dates
Make a note of these key dates and visit our website to register your interest in our events.
Peterborough
Winter Walk Sunday 24 November 2024
Advent Service at Peterborough Cathedral Sunday 1 December 2024
Christmas Bungee Jump Saturday 21 December 2024
March March March 2025
World Kidney Day Thursday 13 March 2025
Brighton Marathon Sunday 6 April 2025
Easter 50 Ultra Challenge
Saturday 12 April 2025
London Marathon Sunday 27 April 2025
Bridges Walks
London, Newcastle and Glasgow Summer 2025
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