Essex Woman Helps Raise Awareness for Organ Donation

Growing up in the Deep South, Tanjala Purnell witnessed many people she knew get diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and other health disorders due to poor nutritional habits.

In many cases, Purnell said those health conditions eventually led to kidney disease, and often required those friends and/or family members to eventually need a kidney transplant. Seeing that motivated Purnell, who now lives in Essex, to further study barriers to kidney transplantation in minorities.

“There were just so many cases of people I knew getting kidney disease and having trouble finding a suitable donor,” said Purnell, who is completing her doctoral work at Johns Hopkins. “I wanted to do all I could to reduce this problem.”

It was that passion that led Purnell to become involved in the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland’s annual Baltimore Kidney Walk. The 10^th annual walk is set for Sunday, May 6, at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Purnell led a team of Hopkins walkers last year and will volunteer to help with the on-site registration during the walk. Approximately 2,000 people are expected to participate in the event, which is used as a vehicle to educate the public about kidney disease and the need for organ donation.

“I’ve been able to use the walk as a way of raising money for research and letting people know exactly what kidney disease is and how who can help combat it, especially among minorities,” Purnell said.

The proceeds raised from the Kidney Walk will benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland’s patient services, education and research efforts, according to a news release. Last year’s event attracted more than 2,500 people and raised more than $275,000, the release continued.

For those interested in participating in this year’s walk, registration begins at 8 a.m. at the zoo’s main gate with the 1.6-mile walk through the zoo expected to start at 9 a.m.

Along with the walk, event organizers said there will also be face painting, rock climbing and tours of a digital camouflage Humvee, the latter two of which are provided by the Maryland National Guard.

Participation in the walk is free to zoo members while everyone else must pay $10 to cover the cost of admission, organizers said. But, participants must raise at least $100 to receive a commemorative T-shirt.

To register for the walk or receive information about sponsorship and/or volunteer opportunities, call 410-494-8545 or visit www.kidneywalk.org.