I have been the Chair of the PKD Charity for 3 years and I am undertaking this task as part of our 20 year anniversary to raise funds for research into PKD.  This is a challenging task given the current Covid restrictions , travelling logistics and actual physical effort (particularly for a 65yo!!).

PKD is a chronic, genetic, systemic condition characterised by the formation and growth of multiple fluid-cysts in many organs. PKD primarily damages the kidneys but can also impair the liver, brain, heart, urinary and intestinal organs. Believed to affect over 12 million worldwide, it’s the most common genetic kidney disease and the 4^th leading cause of kidney failure. Up to 70,000 adults and children in the UK have PKD. At present, there is no cure.

Kidney Research UK and PKD Charity UK have just announced that are working together to accelerate Research into PKD and deliver research that will benefit PKD patients and try and overcome the serious underfunding of UK Polycystic Kidney Research. My challenge is to raise funds for the new KRUK/PKD initiative to help increase PKD research in the UK.  

This is even more vital at the moment due to the massive reduction of giving due to Covid - 19.

In the UK about 1 in 10 dialysis and transplant patients have PKD. Please see Daniel's story.

www.pkdcharity.org.uk/news-events/pkd-voices/440-karen-and-daniel-stapleton