PALO ALTO, Calif., May 27, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meg Whitman, CEO and President of HP, and HP Board Member Ann Livermore, will be the co-chairs of the National Kidney Foundation's Silicon Valley and San Francisco Kidney Walks this weekend. The Silicon Valley Kidney Walk will be held on June 1 at Cityview Plaza in San Jose, and the San Francisco Walk is scheduled for June 2 at Justin Herman Plaza at the Embarcadero. Both events will begin at 9 a.m.
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Livermore, a former Executive Vice President at HP, received a life-saving kidney transplant in 2005. "That experience opened my eyes to how many people are impacted by kidney disease in this country, and even in our own company," said Livermore. "The cost of kidney disease is monumental, but most significantly is the toll it takes on American lives. I was fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant. That is not the case for many people on the waiting list."
HP has contributed $10,000 as a Platinum Sponsor of the Kidney Walk. Livermore, Whitman and more than 300 company employees have formed what they hope will be the most successful Kidney Walk team in the nation.
"At HP we say, if you are going to do something, Make it Matter," said Whitman. "With 73 million Americans at risk for developing kidney disease, we know that supporting NKF can indeed make it matter."
In California alone, more than 50,000 people receive dialysis treatment for kidney failure and 17,500 are on the waiting list for a life-saving kidney transplant. It is estimated that 1 in 9 Californians have kidney disease, and most don't know it because symptoms usually appear late in the disease's progression.
Livermore, Whitman and HP employees will participate in the Silicon Valley Kidney Walk. Livermore will also join the HP workforce at the San Francisco Kidney Walk.
The Kidney Walk is a non-competitive event that raises funds to fight kidney disease through programs of prevention, advocacy and education. Walkers participate as individuals, or form teams with family, friends or colleagues. Kidney Walks are held in cities across the country throughout the year. To join an event or support a walker, visit the San Francisco Kidney Walk Website or the Silicon Valley Kidney Walk Website. All Kidney Walks are listed at www.kidneywalk.org.
"Whether you are a friend, family member, co-worker or someone personally affected by kidney disease, one person's action can have a significant impact," said Livermore. "I encourage you to take your own bold steps as we work together to fight kidney disease."
Facts from the National Kidney Foundation:
- More than 26 million Americans - 1 in 9 adults have chronic kidney disease and most don't know it.
- 73 million American adults are at risk due to high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease.
- In California, over 50,000 people with kidney failure are kept alive with dialysis. More than 415,000 people in the United States depend on dialysis treatment to survive.
- About 17,500 Californians are waiting for a kidney transplant.
- Kidney disease kills 90,000 each year - more people than breast or prostate cancer.
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and tens of millions of Americans at risk. For more information, visit www.kidney.org.
