“By a show of hands, how many people know what PKD (polycystic kidney disease) is?” This is how I begin most of my speeches. I have asked that question at over 80 events. I continue to be amazed as I scan the room and so few hands are raised. This shows me how vital PKD awareness is and why I am excited to participate in the ‘31 Days of PKD Challenges.’

The 31 challenges that the PKD Foundation have created are educational, fun, and an easy yet powerful way for all of us to join together, so when someone hears PKD, they will know what it stands for. I am always up for a challenge and I am excited and proud to say that I am participating in this wonderful initiative and hope you will join me.

Today is the 7th day of this awesome initiative in celebration of National Kidney Month and my heart is overflowing with joy as I am seeing so much PKD and organ donation promotion in my newsfeed on Facebook and Twitter. This is so inspiring to me and I want to thank all of you for helping to make this such a great success. For those of you that are just learning of this great event, I sure hope you will join us in spreading our PKD love and awareness. On this 7th day of the ’31 Days of PKD Challenges,’ the challenge is this: “One organ donor can save up to eight lives. Go to donatelife.net and become an organ donor today!” This one is especially near and dear to my heart as I am alive today and able to share this blog with all of you thanks to the miracle of transplantation. Please consider giving someone else a second chance at life like I have been so lucky to have been given, by signing up to be an organ donor today!

At the end of my speeches, I again ask, “By a show of hands, how many people know what PKD (polycystic kidney disease) is?” Now when I scan the room, every single hand is raised. This exemplifies the power and impact one person can make on someone else’s life. This is what each and every one of us is doing by participating in the ’31 Days of PKD Challenges.’ By participating in these daily challenges we are helping others become a little more aware of this life threatening disease and it gratifies me to know that more people are becoming aware of PKD and gives me hope that we will one day live to see the day a treatment and cure is found. With us joining together and doing this as a team, I hope it will give all of you comfort to know that we have succeeded and have grown these challenges into opportunity and success.

So, who is up for the challenge and will be joining me in honor of National Kidney Month for the ’31 Days of PKD Challenges?’ Please let me know what awareness means to you.