Kidney Health Fest for African American families May 7, 2011

Northwest Kidney Centers' Kidney Health Fest for African American Families features free health screenings, entertainment and healthy food samples made by local celebrity chefs.

With the theme of "Back to Our Roots: Healthy Eating, Healthy Cooking," this event features private consultations with a doctor, healthy food made by local celebrity chefs, and an educational program emceed by Angela Russell, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News anchor. The day also includes entertainment, music, exhibits, fitness demonstrations, an obstacle course and a chance to win prizes.

Co-host churches are Damascus Baptist, First AME, Goodwill Missionary Baptist, Immaculate Conception, Mt. Zion Baptist, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Southside Church of Christ, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist and Walker Chapel AME.

The Fest is an opportunity to receive essential screenings for kidney disease and other health conditions, and to confer privately with a physician about the result - all on site and at no charge. Northwest Kidney Centers will provide these three simple tests to assess a participant's risk of kidney disease:
* Blood pressure check
* Test for protein in a urine sample
* Test for creatinine in a blood sample

"The Fest will help you learn how to become or stay healthy. When you get a free screening for kidney disease and focus on your health for a moment, it can empower you to make beneficial changes in your life," said Dr. Bessie Young, a Seattle kidney specialist who has chaired the community organizing committee since the Fest began.

One in seven American adults has kidney disease. In the African American community, the number increases four-fold. Although African Americans make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, 35 percent of individuals with kidney failure are African American. In addition, African American men are 10 to 14 times more likely to develop kidney failure due to high blood pressure than Caucasian men in the same age group.

Official Website: http://www.nwkidney.org/fest