Arizona Athletes Champion for Kidney Health Awareness, Organ Donors

With help from Arizona Kidney Foundation, Transplant Team Arizona Brings Home the Team Cup from the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games   

Phoenix, AZ – With generous support and sponsorship from Arizona Kidney Foundation, twenty-six transplant recipient athletes from Arizona recently captured 52 medals and the team cup from the National Kidney Foundation’s 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. The event was a four-day Olympic-style event that attracted athletic competitors from across the United States, all of whom were recipients of lifesaving organ transplants.

Jeffrey Neff, Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Kidney Foundation, will be presented with the team cup at a special ceremony in January 2009 to recognize the foundation’s continuing support of Transplant Team Arizona, the local organization that draws attention to the critical need for organ donation and inspires others to take the first step towards saving a life.

“Our organizations are uniquely linked with a proud tradition of caring and I am humbled to accept the team cup on behalf of all of the courageous men and women whose lives showcase the success of transplantation while calling attention to the great need for organ donors,” remarks Neff. “I can’t give enough thanks to John Landers, Managing Director and CEO of Transplant Team Arizona, whose tireless efforts make it possible for Arizona athletes to participate in the US Transplant Games.”

Landers, 55-years-old, was also honored at the games with the Wendy Marx Award for Organ Donor Awareness for his work on organ, tissue and eye donation and transplant awareness. The award is presented to a transplant athlete who has taken their personal experience with transplantation and used it to increase public awareness of the desperate need for organ and tissue donation. Mr. Landers is a heart recipient, as well as a donor family member. He golfed for the Arizona contingent at the games.

“Bottom line, Know Your GFR and pay attention to your kidney function,” advises Landers. “You don’t want your kidneys to fail and you don’t want to be on a transplant list. While my work is all about organ donation awareness, it really starts with prevention. Being on a transplant list is all about waiting, and for people with kidney disease, it often means suffering through dialysis while you’re waiting.” 

Glomerular Filtration Rate or GFR is considered to be a key indicator of kidney condition. The odds of slowing or managing kidney disease increase significantly when chronic kidney disease is detected early. One in nine American adults (26 million) has Chronic Kidney Disease – and, of those, 90 percent don’t know they have it, according to the Arizona Kidney Foundation. GFR offers everyone a way to check their kidneys with a simple blood test.

Another Arizona athlete who participated in the U.S. Transplant Games was Andy Bombeck, the son of Arizona author Erma Bombeck. Andy is a grade school teacher who received a kidney from his wife six years ago. Bombeck played ping-pong, volleyball and basketball at the games and medaled in tennis. “It’s an honor to be a part of this event, which shows transplant recipients what they can achieve,” shares Bombeck. “It’s also great for the public to see what these athletes can do – they’re not just still alive, they’re competing! The Arizona Kidney Foundation generously supports our team and they play a big part in helping to make this happen.”

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, over 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for transplants of vital organs and some seventeen people die each day while waiting. Landers has consistently met these sobering facts with humor and grace since his heart transplant on November 7, 1991. He has raced cars, performed stand-up comedy and written a book, all in an effort to raise awareness to the importance of organ donation.

“After 17 years of proselytizing, it really comes down to the simple preventative measures. Make regular doctor visits and have your blood tested, so you know your kidney function,” counsels Landers. “Stay in great shape and embrace your life – we don’t know what we have until it’s gone.”    

Know your GFR
www.KnowYourGFR.org

Arizona Kidney Foundation is a state wide non-profit foundation dedicated to providing education about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and helping kidney disease sufferers overcome the medical, financial and logistical challenges of CKD.  In 2008, the Foundation commemorates its 45^th anniversary of providing dynamic programs, direct patient support, kidney health initiatives and organ donation awareness.  For more information, call (602) 840-1644 or visit http://www.azkidney.org/.

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