Kidney Research UK – the UK’s leading funder of research into the treatment and prevention of kidney disease – is making the appeal ahead its 2012 London Bridges Walk next month [July]. 

London Bridges Walk is the Charity’s largest fundraising event, attracting people from all across the UK and raising tens of thousands of pounds for vital research every year.  

 The walk starts at Potters Fields Park, close to Tower Bridge, and makes its way west along the Thames, crossing eight of London’s iconic bridges before returning to Potters Fields, where it finishes.

Three million people in the UK are currently at risk from kidney disease, while around 50,000 require some form of treatment for kidney failure each year. Despite this, Kidney Research UK is only able to fund a fifth of all research aimed at finding a cure for the disease, and is calling for more people to attend next month’s walk.

Henry Kimbell, Fundraising Manager for Kidney Research UK, said with so much happening in London in 2012, the Charity hopes to make this year’s walk the most successful ever.

“London Bridges Walk is a fantastic event where anyone can take part,” explained Henry.

“All eyes have been on London over the past few months and this is your chance to be part of something very special in what is an incredible year for the city, not to mention the rest of the UK.

“Everyone’s welcome and by joining us you’ll not only be funding research to save lives but also helping to raise awareness about the threat of kidney disease.”

The family-friendly event gets underway at 10.00am on Sunday 08 July and is open to anyone, with a registration fee of £10 for adults, £4 for children under the age of 16 and a free T-shirt for every walker. 

For more information about London Bridges Walk or to register to take part, please visit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/londonbridgeswalk or call: 0845 612 1226.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Kidney Research UK Press Office: 01733 367860 or out of hours: 07733 103 830
E-mail: pressoffice@kidneyresearchuk.org
Web:  www.kidneyresearchuk.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
About Kidney Research UK

Kidney Research UK is the largest funder dedicated to research into kidney disease in the UK. Founded in 1961, the organisation

recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary supporting ground-breaking medical research to save lives.

Kidney disease is a silent killer and every year around 50,000 people undergo treatment for kidney failure, 3,000 people die on dialysis, while 300 die waiting for a kidney transplant.
Kidney Research UK is dedicated to substantially reducing these numbers through funding life-saving research into kidney disease and by generating public awareness of kidney health.

90 per cent of people on the transplant list are waiting for a kidney, which is approximately 7,000 patients. Even though cases of kidney failure are increasing by five per cent every year, Kidney Research UK is currently only able to fund one in five research projects it receives proposals for, all of which are aimed at enhancing treatments and ultimately finding a cure for kidney disease.