Two-time kidney transplant recipient organizes Lee’s Summit pub crawl to raise money for NKF Kidney Walk
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in Community, GSD Online
Josh Baldwin, a 33 year old transplant patient is raising money for the 2nd Annual National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk, by presenting a pub crawl in downtown Lee’s Summit, MO on Saturday, September 19. For a minimum donation of five dollars to his Kidney Walk team – The Rowdy Renal Renegades – participants will receive a wristband which entitles them to crawl-only food and beverage specials at restaurants and bars along the pub crawl route.
Baldwin, who has lived with chronic renal disease since he was an infant, got the idea of a pub crawl from a nurse at his renal transplant clinic office. “Sharon, one of my clinic nurses, mentioned that her team was putting on a pub crawl from Lone Jack to Warrensburg,” said Baldwin. “That seemed to a little too far for me, so I looked into organizing my own pub crawl in Lee’s Summit.”
The response he got from the bars, restaurants and other businesses in downtown Lee’s Summit was overwhelmingly positive. “Everyone has been so supportive,” Baldwin remarked. “Several shops have donated goods and services to include in the door prize drawing we are holding at the end of the crawl.”
As a two-time kidney transplant patient, Baldwin is passionate about raising money and awareness for the National Kidney Foundation and the work they do. He applauds their commitment to preventative screenings, which can help catch renal disease early, as well as their work in organ donation. “If my efforts can help even one of the 26 million Americans living with chronic kidney disease, or the 92,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant, then it will be worth all the time and energy I have put into this,” Baldwin concluded.
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Kidney Krawl takes place on Saturday, September 19, from 7:00pm to Midnight. Participating bars include Braata Caribbean Restaurant and Bar, The Do Drop Inn, The Peanut, Jerry’s Baitshop, Maxwell’s Downtown Grill and LMS Wine Creators. For complete details about the event or to donate and join the crawl, contact Josh Baldwin, josh@raygunsandrodents.com, 816-554-2707.
