ANN ARBOR: 'Biggest Losers' help raise awareness at National Kidney WalkPublished: Sunday, September 19, 2010
By Anna Kangas, Special Writer
Two "big losers" and more than 400 others walked the campus of Concordia University in Ann Arbor Sept. 12 to support a common hope.
The "losers" were father and daughter Darrell and Andrea Hough, Ann Arbor residents and former contestants on NBC's TV show "The Biggest Loser," who together have lost more than 100 pounds.
The Houghs were in attendance to support the hope of improving the quality of life for people experiencing chronic kidney disease, and to help spread awareness in how to prevent it, such as maintaining a healthy weight.
The eighth annual Ann Arbor/Brighton Kidney Walk, hosted by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, invited those currently battling kidney failure, their friends, nurses, families and donors to walk to raise money for the nonprofit's Peer Mentoring Program. The program instructs current and former dialysis and transplant patients in how to be a supportive presence for those beginning their own journey in handling kidney failure.
The walk, said Michael Steigmeyer of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, incurred approximately $65,000 in proceeds.
Andrea Hough said that the day's event, filled with those who have conquered the disease, know those who did not, and those currently undergoing treatment, was a hopeful one.
"I'm a sucker for good stories," she said. "And we've heard a lot of them today."
The Houghs' trainer, Demond Johnson, owner of A2 Fitness Professionals, was also at the event, and A2 Fitness was named among the sponsors of the day.
The Houghs helped in the warm-up exercises, as TV news anchor Steve Garagiola of Channel 4 in Detroit led the event as master of ceremonies. The Saline Fiddlers also performed during the event.
Among those who walked the path throughout Concordia, strewn with water-bottle stands and signs with facts about kidney disease, many had a personal connection with the experience of kidney failure.
Local resident Greg Cronin, a successful kidney transplant recipient, walked with his girlfriend, Yvonne Blyskal, and his donor's wife, Jennifer Smith. His donor, Bryan Smith, not in attendance, is Cronin's nephew.
He said his life is much more positive after his transplant.
"I can't explain just how much life is different. I have so much more energy," he said.
Cronin, who is walking for the the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan for the third year in a row, hopes to become a peer mentor.
"Having someone who has received dialysis (as a mentor) is a lot more personal than learning about the experience from a doctor," he said of the treatments that for him lasted four hours a day, three days a week, for one year in 2007.
University of Michigan Dialysis Department nurse Lorie Crimmins of Saline walked with her daughter, Mackenzie, and said that walking with the hundreds of other people in support of the cause was a very positive experience.
"It's why you do your job (as a nurse) -- to make life better for these people and to educate their family and friends on their treatment," she said. "It's great to see people out here today."
Fellow nurses Lisa Morris and Stacey Rall of the University of Michigan Outpatient Dialysis Department, were also happy to hear the success stories told among the day's participants.
"There has been a lot of talking among each other today about personal stories," Rall said. "It makes me feel very proud of them to speak about their successes and struggles, and to see their willingness to share."
"(Kidney failure patients) are a family," Morris said. "(Our presence today) is a very important way of supporting them outside of our four (hospital) walls."
Morris also commented that the day's event provided a great opportunity for those currently battling illness to be active with those that support them.
"Chronic illness affects the whole family," she said. "(This activity and the like) gives them the option to go on living."
http://www.heritage.com/articles/2010/09/19/life/doc4c968bac6c73d713575898.txt
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