American Kidney Fund Teams Up with Olympic Champion Suni Lee to Help Educate and Empower People to Know the Cause of Their Kidney Disease
July 09 2024 - 10:00AM
Reigning Olympic all-around gymnastics champion Suni Lee and the
American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced today they are partnering for
AKF’s Know Your Kidneys initiative, a comprehensive program that
provides a roadmap to better kidney health. Lee, who just clinched
a spot on the U.S. gymnastics team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris,
will share her kidney disease experience, shed light on unknown
causes of kidney disease and share resources that can help those
seeking a diagnosis.
Lee won gold in the individual all-around event as well as a
silver team medal and bronze medal in the women’s uneven bars at
the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She disclosed in 2023 that she had
been diagnosed with kidney disease of an unknown origin. As a
result, she took a break in competition to focus on her health, but
was later cleared by her health care team to return to competition,
and has received widespread accolades for her comeback. She was
named to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team at the Olympic Trials in
her hometown state of Minnesota on June 30.
“We are excited to work with Suni, who is an inspiration to so
many, especially young people. She has demonstrated grace and
resilience in the face of a life-altering diagnosis,” said AKF
President and CEO LaVarne A. Burton. “Suni is not alone — 1 in 7
Americans live with kidney disease, and she’s also a part of a
smaller group of people living with rare kidney diseases. With Suni
using her platform to encourage people to know their kidneys, know
their cause, and know their plan, we can make an even stronger
impact. Increasing awareness about the impact kidney disease has on
people of all ages—and encouraging people with kidney disease to
continue pursuing their dreams— is a goal that Suni and the
American Kidney Fund have in common.”
“Getting diagnosed with kidney disease turned the world that I
knew upside-down. At the time of my diagnosis, I was 20 years old,
competing in a sport that I love so much,” Lee said. “My kidney
disease has been difficult, and I know firsthand that sometimes the
cause of your disease isn’t clear-cut. But I want to encourage
others to be informed about their kidney health and become a
self-advocate for a treatment plan that can allow them to live
their best life. I’m thrilled to work with the American Kidney Fund
and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Up to 15% of people with kidney disease do not know the cause of
their disease. AKF’s Know Your Kidneys program is designed to be a
customized experience for people at risk for kidney disease and
those living with it, providing comprehensive, interactive
resources to support them through their entire kidney disease
journey. The Know Your Cause pathway offers information about
testing options, genetic counseling and clinical trials, as well as
an interactive tool to guide patients on how to speak with their
doctor about identifying the cause of their kidney disease, which
is critical to ensure the most effective treatment plan.
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About the American Kidney Fund
The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all
fronts as the nonprofit with the greatest direct impact on people
with kidney disease. AKF works on behalf of 1 in 7 Americans living
with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an
unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are
in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through
transplant. AKF fights for kidney health for all through programs
that address early detection, disease management, financial
assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy. AKF is one
of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every
donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating
from Charity Navigator for 21 consecutive years and the Platinum
Seal of Transparency from Candid, formerly known as GuideStar.
For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect
with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- American Kidney Fund Teams Up with Gymnastics Champion Suni
Lee
Nancy Gregory
American Kidney Fund
(240) 292-7077
ngregory@kidneyfund.org