22 Kidney Donor Athletes
One Kidney Climb
KDA is using this climb to bring awareness to living donation, demonstrate what is possible post-donation, and to launch initiatives which inspire, support and educate people about the experience of living donation.
The rooftop of Africa! Kilimanjaro! Kidney Donor Athletes stood on top of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world March 10, 2022, World Kidney Day.
During the climb hurdles were overcome, life long bonds established, and a message sent to all the world:
“The purpose of this climb is to show people around the world that it’s possible to thrive on one kidney,” said Tracey Hulick, founder of Kidney Donor Athletes.
“Something that’s important to all of us is to normalize kidney donations,” Patty Graham, said. “We’re not heroes, we’re normal people. We lead normal lives.”
Thanks to everyone who has supported this climb and to our dear friends at Embark Exploration Company for safely and expertly guiding our great adventure!
The Details
Here’s the What/When/Where/Why of our big adventure!
Find out more about the dire need and the life saving benefits of living kidney donation.
Interesting facts about the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
KDA KILIMANJARO CLIMBING TEAM
Learn more about this group of 22 kidney donor athletes from across the U.S. and Canada.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Would you like to donate to our advocacy effort? You can make a personal donation here:
Are you interested in becoming a corporate sponsor for our event?
Questions
Do you have any questions related to our incredible advocacy expedition, donating, or sponsorship?
One Kidney Climb
News
Meet Kili Climber Katie
Katie did not hesitate to donate because her mother was in need, and she was lucky to be a match. Katie's grandfather passed from kidney failure, further inspiring her donation as she wants to have her mother around for a very long time. She is climbing because she...
From Yahtzee to Kilimanjaro: Shawna’s Story
How do you make the most of a global pandemic? You gather a group of six amazing Kidney Donor Athletes and have a fun little virtual Yahtzee tournament as a way to connect with other people, build community, and maintain sanity. Then, when the tournament is over, you...
Jay continues to give by climbing Kilimanjaro
Jay was inspired to donate to pay back a debt of gratitude. Thirteen years ago, Jay was caught in an avalanche that broke his leg, shattering his pelvis and severing nerves and arteries. His friend Bill saved his life by stabilizing him, building a fire to...
Tracey’s inspiration: kda & kilimanjaro
I first heard about living kidney donation on the first day of seventh grade. A classmate’s uncle donated his kidney to her cousin, who both recovered nicely. I had never heard such a thing, but somehow I knew it was for me. Tracey with others in her donor chain...
“strong like a rock” & ready to climb
Hujambo! My name is Sarah and I am a proud member of Team Jabali, one of two teams planning to summit Kilimanjaro on World Kidney Day for KDA’s One Kidney Climb 2022. Jabali means “strong like a rock” and I can’t wait to show the world how strong we can be with one...
Steve’s story and cause to climb
My journey to becoming a non-directed kidney donor started with an early morning bike ride in late June 2019. I was scrolling through Facebook prior to beginning my ride and one post almost jumped out of my phone. It was from a high school acquaintance,...
Stephanie’s great challenge to give & to climb
For me, deciding to apply to join the Kilimanjaro One Kidney Climb team was a lot like the decision to donate my left kidney – I was scrolling through Facebook one evening and saw a post about it and thought, “Oh! I HAVE to do that!” (Hey, who says social...
Meet Kili Climber Lucy
Lucy was inspired to donate to make a real difference in the world. She has always felt the desire to donate an organ. She responded to an article in a newspaper that she felt was meant for her. She is climbing because she feels this is a unique...
Meet kili Climber kristyn
In 2018 I started hiking in Acadia National Park. I was overweight and out of shape so with a max elevation of about 1500ft, it was the perfect place to start. By the end of that first summer, I was hooked. I decided to dust off an old goal I had shelved back in high...
Andrea’s kili climb story
Andrea donated her kidney to her uncle. After going through the process and witnessing the difference it made to him, she would donate all over again if she could. She is climbing to help raise awareness of living kidney donation and to be an example of how donating...
kili climber Natalie: acting for advocacy
Natalie was inspired to donate when her friend’s daughter was in end-stage renal failure, and she felt compelled to help. She is climbing not only for the physical challenge post kidney donation but out of a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for living...
J’ne’s training for Kili Climb
I’m not sure what came over me when I applied to climb Kilimanjaro with KDA. I only knew that if I was accepted, it would be a new adventure with a supportive group of people that would help me get there. My initial feelings when considering kidney donation were...
Meet Kili Climber Mike
Mike was inspired to donate because his wife, Annie, needed a kidney. She was in stage 5 renal failure; the next step was dialysis. He tried to be a direct donor but was not a match. He learned of “paired match,” give a kidney, get a kidney as part of a...
Kathryn “Why NOt” Donor & Kili Climber
Kathryn was inspired to donate after reading about her recipient who had been on home dialysis for more than four years. She immediately asked if this is something she could do and felt that this person was as deserving of a new lease on life as anyone she was...
meet kili climber chris
Chris was inspired to donate when he watched an interview on the news in 2017. Donating was not something he had thought much about before that day. That interview stirred up a strong sense to give. He had been blessed with good health and it felt...