Kidney Health Australia has launched this year's Red Socks Run with participants to run, walk, or ride 60 kilometres individually or as a team across October, supporting those affected by this debilitating disease.
Around 2 million adult Australians live with chronic kidney disease, but 1.8 million remain unaware they have the condition. People can lose 90 per cent of their kidney function without experiencing symptoms.
Kidney Health Australia CEO, Chris Forbes, calls on all Australians to raise awareness and contribute to fundraising efforts.
“The Red Socks Run 60km challenge is a way of stepping into the shoes, or socks, of someone sitting in a dialysis chair for 60 hours a week, and helps shine a stronger light on one of Australia’s least known chronic conditions,” he said.
Australian actress Michala Banas, who faced a major health scare as a child, highlighted the importance of kidney health and urges everyone to request a simple kidney function test during their next doctor's appointment.
"It's such an easy thing to keep an eye on,” she said. "The next time you're at a doctor's appointment just ask them to check your kidney function. That kind of stuff can really save you down the line because once it's too late, it's really too late.”
On average, 66 Australians will die every day with kidney disease, for which there is no cure.