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 HAS EXCITING NEWS! 💚
We're bringing you a NEW adventure!
Kidney Donor Athletes is heading to New Hampshire's breathtaking White Mountains for an unforgettable Pemi Loop Trek, July 22–26, 2027!
We're excited to partner with Dave Ashley, founder and owner of DASH Adventures, to bring this incredible experience to our kidney donor community! Together, we're creating another opportunity to challenge perceived limitations, build lasting friendships, and demonstrate what's possible after living kidney donation.
🎒 ONLY 8 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Adventure Details
📍 White Mountains, New Hampshire
📅 July 22–26, 2027
🏔️ Five-day trekking adventure
Eligibility Requirements:
• Must be a living kidney donor at least one year post-donation at the time of application.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be an active KDA Connect member.
• Must meet physical preparation and safety requirements.
Not a member? Join KDA Connect here: kidneydonorathlete.org/kdaconnect
💚 Financial Commitments
• Trip Fee: $1,250
• Fundraising Minimum: $2,000 (separate from trip fee)
• Nonrefundable Deposit: $500 (applied toward trip fee)
• Travel insurance and personal expenses are not included.
🚨 IMPORTANT: If selected, a $500 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure your spot. No deposit, no confirmed spot! Failure to pay by the communicated deadline may result in your spot being offered to another applicant.
⚠️ Disclaimers: This is a physically demanding trek involving steep terrain, elevation changes, unpredictable weather, and inherent outdoor risks. Applying does not guarantee acceptance. Selected participants must agree to all financial obligations, fundraising requirements, cancellation policies, and safety guidelines. Withdrawal may result in additional financial responsibility.
📅 APPLICATIONS CLOSE NOVEMBER 22, 2026!
Ready to challenge yourself and make unforgettable memories with fellow kidney donors?
👉 APPLY HERE: tally.so/r/44WPLX
One kidney. Endless possibilities. 💚
#KidneyDonorAthletes #KDAConnect #PemiLoop #LivingKidneyDonor
💚 One Kidney. Endless Possibilities.
As we prepare for Giving Tuesday, we're kicking things off by celebrating a living kidney donor who recently completed her First Event Back! 🏃♀️
Just seven months after donating a kidney, she completed the St. George Half Marathon with support from KDA's First Event Back initiative. But she didn't stop there! She also completed a 50K in Washington!
“Honestly, seeing athletes in KDA helped me and my husband feel more confident about my donation because we could see that I would not be hindered physically by my donation.”
💚 This is why our First Event Back initiative matters!
This Giving Tuesday, we're setting a goal to raise$1,500 to help more living kidney donors participate in their first athletic event after donation.
Whether it's a 5K, half marathon, hike, or another personal milestone, we want to help donors reach their next starting line.
🎯 Our goal: $1,500. Every dollar makes a difference!
📱 Text KDAGIVES to 50555
💻 Donate: secure.qgiv.com/for/dnb26b
Let's show the world what's possible after kidney donation, one starting line at a time! 💚
#GivingTuesday #KidneyDonorAthletes #FirstEventBack #LivingKidneyDonation #OneKidneyEndlessPossibilities
💚 KDA Wants to Hear From YOU!
Big things are on the horizon for Kidney Donor Athletes, and we want your input.
From local meetups and 5Ks to hiking, cycling, and international adventures, we're exploring exciting opportunities to bring our kidney donor community together.
🥾🚴♀️🏃 What adventures would you like to see?
Take a few minutes to complete our Member Event Interest Survey and help shape the future of KDA events!
📝 Take the survey: tally.so/r/0VBdqZ
💚 Your community. Your voice. Your adventures!
#KidneyDonorAthletes #LivingKidneyDonors #KDACommunity
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