The National Kidney Foundation is hosting their 9th Annual Central New Jersey Kidney Walk on May 22 at Mercer County Park. The Cowan family, from Pennington, have raised over $6,00 on behalf of their 5-year-old son Sean, who suffers from kidney disease.
In 2015, five-year old Sean Cowan was diagnosed with Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) which resulted in him having Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome (nephrosis). Nephrosis is a disease that caused his kidneys to lose protein and his body to swell.
With the help of the nephrotic team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the toddler is responding well to medications and is in partial remission. The nephrotic team is continuing to test additional medications in hopes of getting Sean to full remission. Usually affecting young children between the ages of 1 ½ and 5, children of all ages and even adults can get it. It happens twice as often in boys than in girls.
“Since we have never heard of this disease and have no family history of it, we have been doing a lot of research,” said Sean’s mom, Michele Cowan. In most cases, the cause for nephrotic syndrome is unknown. The National Kidney Foundation supports active research into causes and treatments of the nephrotic syndrome.
“We didn’t realize how many people are suffering from so many different forms of kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease, and that is why my family and I decided to take part and in the Kidney Walk.”
The Kidney Walk is the nation’s largest fundraiser to fight kidney disease. Each year, more than 75,000 walkers join the NKF to raise over $8 million to help kidney patients and their families. More than 80 cents of every dollar donated directly supports NKF programs and services.
“We decided that we needed to contribute to this amazing cause – to help the many people who are fighting this disease – to help my son.” said Cowan, team captain of “Cowans for a Cure”.
With the support of many close family and friends, the “Cowans for a Cure” team has already raised over $6,000 in just three months. The Cowan family will join nearly 1,000 walkers on May 22 at Mercer County Park for the 9th Annual Central New Jersey Kidney Walk.
The NKF Kidney Walk is a non-competitive walk focusing on education and prevention of kidney and urinary tract diseases, and the awareness of the need for organ donation. The Kidney Walk will provide not only a short walk to bring awareness to kidney disease, but also family-friendly entertainment including music, a free Zumba workout, free food, drinks, raffles and much more!
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 10 a.m. People of all ages are invited as walkers will stroll between a one mile route and 5k route around the festival grounds. To register for the 2016 Central NJ Walk, please visit www.donate.kidney.org/centralnj, or call 215-923-8611, Ext. 732 for more information.
