News release
Date: (Insert date of issue)
(Insert name of local area) man/woman/group (Insert snappy description of event) for World Kidney Day
2015
(Insert participant name of individual or group/organisation) from (location) has taken up the challenge
to arrange (Insert brief description of event) in (insert place where and when event will take place) to
help raise awareness of kidney disease as part of World Kidney Day UK 2015.
(Insert name), is getting out into the community and hopes to raise awareness of the importance of your
kidneys, how you can look after yourself and reduce the risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
(Name) said: “I/We decided to 'do our bit' for World Kidney Day because (insert details of why supporting
WKD in this way is important to you, for example a personal connection with kidney disease). We need to
raise awareness of this life-threatening problem. The more people know about kidney health, the
better."
Dr. (Name), local Consultant Nephrologist, comments: "Chronic kidney disease is common, affecting
over 3 million people in the UK. However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms,
although people with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, a family history and those from
certain ethnic groups, have a higher risk. The good news is that depending on the problem, early
detection, changes in lifestyle and a healthy diet can often slow down the progression of the disease,
delaying the possible need for dialysis or transplantation."
“Please get behind (name) and help share the World Kidney Day UK message - Kidney Health for All."
For more information about World Kidney Day in the UK, including support, advice, ideas for other
activities and downloadable resources please visit: www.worldkidneyday.co.uk. For information on the
global initiative, visit www.worldkidneyday.org
ENDS
-2For further info, please contact: (Insert your name and telephone number)
Notes to Editors:
About World Kidney Day:
World Kidney Day is an annual global awareness and education event, held on the second Thursday in
March. The theme for 2015 is Kidney Health for All and the date is Thursday 12th March 2015.
The campaign in the UK is led by the Kidney Charities Together Group comprising five leading kidney
charities:
The British Kidney Patient Association
www.britishkidney-pa.co.uk
Kidney Research UK
www.kidneyresearchuk.org
Kids Kidney Research
www.kidskidneyresearch.org
National Kidney Federation
www.kidney.org.uk
The Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity
www.pkdcharity.org.uk
The 2015 World Kidney Day campaign in the UK is also supported by a charitable donation from Baxter
Health Ltd.
Kidney Facts:
 Our kidneys filter around 180 litres of blood every day - that’s enough to fill an Olympic swimming
pool twice a year!
 Kidney disease can affect anyone but is more common in older people.
 Chronic kidney disease is common, affecting over 3 million people in the UK. However, it can go
undetected as people often have no symptoms.
 Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are five times more likely to experience kidney failure
than other groups.
 Currently there is no cure available for people with end stage kidney failure. The only treatments are
dialysis, a transplant or conservative care.
 Every year over 55,000 people in the UK are being treated for end stage kidney failure.
 A staggering 6,000 people, that’s around 90% of the total organ waiting list, are waiting for a kidney,
yet less than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year and one person dies every day in the UK
waiting for a kidney.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a sudden reduction in kidney function. It is not a physical injury to the
kidney and usually occurs without symptoms. AKI affects over half a million people every year in
England, and accounts for 5-15% of all hospital admissions.