COMMUNITY /// HEALTH /// EDUCATION
LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES
Join the Living Donor Games!
In a 2023 survey, 73% of respondents felt that donating a kidney would negatively affect their health. The Donor Games refutes this widely held misconception by showcasing the impressive health and fitness of kidney and liver donors from around the country.
With over 90,000 Americans waiting for a kidney, your donation can be the difference between life and death, offering a chance at a longer, healthier life for the recipient. Living kidney donation is a low-risk procedure, and 95% of donors say they would do it again because the emotional reward of saving a life is unparalleled. Donors often experience an enhanced sense of well-being, with improved quality of life and psychosocial health. Most healthy people can donate and if you qualify, you’ll be giving the ultimate gift: a life-saving kidney with lasting impact.
Programs
Kidney Donor Athletes is proud to create spaces, events, and opportunities that support and celebrate living kidney donors.
Our Champions program began in 2019 after the impact of donor and aspiring donor meetings showed to be deeply meaningful.
The First Event Back program was an aspirational idea formed in KDA’s first Board of Directors in 2020 and came into existence in late 2023. It’s our way of supporting you in your first event back after donation!
“Something that’s important to all of us is to normalize kidney donation. We’re not heroes, we’re normal people. We lead normal lives.” ~ Patty Graham, living donor
Events
We host events to demonstrate that living organ donors can accomplish any physical challenge that could be achieved by a person with two kidneys. We climb mountains and volcanoes, and trek through the Grand Canyon as a group. We also host movie screenings, have KDA Family Gatherings, and participate in the Donor Games. We create experiences for all kinds of living donors and would love for you to participate!
Facebook Posts
KDA Returns to the Grand Canyon: Rim to Rim 2026 🌄🔥
This will push you to your limits and show you exactly what you're capable of.
24 miles. One day. 5,000+ ft gain.
🗓️October 9-13, 2026
⚡ Only 11 spots available
You will descend the North Rim at sunrise, cross the Colorado River, and climb to the South Rim…all in a single day.
Requirements:
✔️ Must be a living kidney donor
✔️ KDA Connect member (Kidney Hero or Kidney Legend)
👉 Not a member? Join here: kidneydonorathlete.org/kdaconnect/
Commitment:
• $300 non refundable deposit to secure your spot
• $1,400 total trip cost
• $2,000 fundraising minimum
This is an extremely demanding endurance event ⚠️
Training is required.
Applications are competitive and will be reviewed. Submission does not guarantee a spot.
⏳ Applications close Sunday, April 5
If you are ready to push your limits and be part of something bigger than yourself… this is it.
👉 Apply now: form.jotform.com/260895740739168
It’s lunchtime. 😋
While you’re enjoying a nice meal, here’s a powerful story to go with it.
340 miles.
10 runners.
8 crew members.
One incredible comeback.
Kidney Donor Athlete Maica Machnik took on a 340 mile relay from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for her First Event Back.
And she didn’t just participate…she ran 47 miles. 🏃🏻♀️
After giving the gift of life, she proved what this community is all about: strength, resilience, and showing up in a whole new way.
This is why the First Event Back Scholarship exists.
To help living donors return to the start line.
To rediscover their strength.
To take that first step back.
During Donate Life Month, we are working to fund more stories like Maica’s.
Our goal:
25 donations of 20 dollars
So while you’re sitting down for lunch, take a moment to help someone else rise
Donate here: kidneydonorathlete.org/donate/
Because the finish line after donation is just the beginning. 💚 💙
#DonateLifeMonth #LivingDonorDay #KidneyDonorAthletes #FirstEventBack #OrganDonation
This is what a first event back looks like 💙
Sara Hummel donated her kidney on April 6, 2023.
Just a few months later, she stepped onto the course and completed the Native X Obstacle Fitness Race.
Her first event after donation.
She wrote “FirstRaceBack” on her arm.
Because of that, she was able to share her story with a judge during the race.
One moment turned into awareness.
One story reached someone new.
One donor made an impact far beyond the finish line.
This is why the First Event Back Scholarship matters.
April is Donate Life Month and April 1 is Donate Life Living Donor Day.
We are raising $500 to fund 5 living donors as they take that first step back.
25 people.
20 dollars each.
5 powerful stories made possible.
Be part of what comes next.
Donate here: kidneydonorathlete.org/donate/ 💙
#FirstEventBack #KidneyDonorAthlete #FirstStepBack
Frequently asked questions
Do you still have questions after reading through our home page? We’ve got you covered! Check out our FAQ to read answers to the most common questions we receive. If you still have questions after that, you can reach out through our Contact page.
Get Involved
We hope that by visiting our website, you’re feeling inspired! Want to take it further by getting more involved through sharing your story, attending an event, serving on a committee, or even applying to our Board of Directors?
I love being a part of KDA because it connects me with a community of like-minded people who truly understand my journey. Being surrounded by other athletes inspires me every day, and I’m passionate about helping spread awareness to even more people around the world.
Meet the Donor Athletes
Explore more than 150 stories of kidney donor athletes!
Share your Story
Get involved with KDA by sharing your donation story!
Join a One Kidney Club
Build community with other living donors in your area.
Being a part of the KDA community gave me the opportunity to show that a person of color and living kidney donor, while being a plus-sized athlete, can still live a healthy, athletic lifestyle. It is very important to display this, and it is one of the reasons why I started Multicultural Miracle Donor Foundation, to advocate and bring awareness.
“The KDA community is a mash-up of every kind of athlete out there, and we’re all here to rally around you. It makes no difference if you walk three times a week around the neighborhood, or if you’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. We’re all just people. People who have saved lives and want to support others who are also passionate about saving lives and making the world a better place.” ~ Tracey Hulick, Founder