2010 will be my tenth year on dialysis. Ten extra years of life, that is phenomenal. Not as phenomenal as say twenty years oreven twenty five years, but, it sure the heck beats being dead.
To mark the occasion I am getting into shape and joining the Grand River Expedition 2010 which will lead scientists, educators, local officials, river enthusiasts and at least one fellow on dialysis from its headwaters near Jackson, Michigan to Lake Michigan 225 miles downstream. I am also raising money for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan which is the nation's premier organization working to prevent kidney disease and to improve the lives of those who are suffering from kidney disease.
I'm proud to say that my Mid-Michigan NKFM Walking Team of which so many wonderful friends have been apart of over the years, the Riverdudes, has raised over $54,000 since we started in 2001. This couldn't have happened with your help. Thank you.
To celebrate my tenth year on dialysis I pledge to raise $20,000.
Prior to having my kidneys suddenly fail, I was a watershed management consultant working to protect Michigan rivers. Back then I use to talk about how we needed to preserve wetlands since they were nature's kidneys working to improve water quality and manage flow. Well now, I'm talking about human kidneys and how we need to protect them for pretty much the same reasons. the 2010 Grand River Expedition will stop in communities along the way and set up mini-river festivals. With my friends at NKFM we will join the festivals to encourage people to take good care of their kidneys and to protect wetlands too and to get out and enjoy the river.
For the past ten years, I haven't done any river work, other than paddling with my two childrenm Jacob and Antonia and my wife, Andria. Rather, I've been working with a number of groups to improve the lives of dialysis patients. When I first started river work someone who recognized me in a grocery store, shouted, "hey, Riverdude." The nickname stuck, so I'm proud to say that in 2010, the Riverdude will re-enter the waters to once again help protect them and kidneys too.
There are four ways that you can get involved:
1. Make a donation through this link above.
2. Join The Riverdudes Walk Team and collect funds to help us reach our goal. We will be walking at Potter Park in Lansing on June 13. Let me know and I will happily sign you up.
3. Join me for a day on the river. The Grand River Expedition will be held the last two weeks of July. I would love it if you would consider paddling with me for a day as we make our journey from Jackson to Lake Michigan. Just let me know which day you can join me. You can also raise funds in support of our goal by joining the Walk Team even though you will be paddling rather than walking.
4. Become a virtual member of my crew. Join the Walk Team but because of timing or distance, just help raise money. If you can't walk or paddle with me, you can still be a part of the crew.
The money you donate to NKFM is used for research into cures and better treatments, sending kids on dialysis and with transplants to camp and educating at risk populations about how to reduce their risk to kidney disease.
Please donate $100, $50, or what you can today.
Thank you for helping me with this great project.
Dialyze for the Prize! Erich
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