For National Kidney Month 2026, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is inviting everyone to step up for kidney health through the 850Challenge — a reminder that 850 million people worldwide are living with kidney disease, often without even knowing it.
Kidneys are remarkable organs. Every day, they filter waste and extra fluid from your blood, regulate blood pressure, balance essential minerals, and support red blood cell production. Yet kidney disease often develops silently. In fact, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about one in nine people, and many experience no symptoms in the early stages. When kidney dysfunction lasts longer than three months, the damage is often irreversible — making early detection critical.
What is the #850Challenge?*
ASN encourages participants to complete activities that burn approximately 850 calories — such as:
- 8,500 steps in a day
- 8.5 miles of walking
- 8.5 minutes of high-intensity training
*From ASN’s website
Awareness Becomes Personal
In August 2005, Ray Brooks was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. For eight long years, Brooks waited. In 2013, that call finally came. A generous donor had given him a second chance at life.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that this was a death sentence,” Brooks says.
He had never known anyone who needed a transplant and didn’t yet understand the lifesaving power of organ and tissue donation. That gift didn’t just restore his health — it reshaped his purpose.
After his transplant, Brooks became a caregiver for another patient waiting for a liver transplant, offering support from someone who truly understood the journey. He also began volunteering with Donor Network of Arizona to pay forward the generosity that saved him.
Today, Brooks is healthy and thriving. Instead of planning for the worst, he’s planning family gatherings. Instead of fearing a future cut short, he’s watching it unfold.
Because of his selfless donor, Brooks gets to see his grandchildren grow up — a gift measured not just in years, but in milestones, memories and moments that once felt impossible.
Take the Next Step
This March, as we take steps, cycle miles, or push through a few minutes of high-intensity training, we remember that for millions — including Ray — kidney health is not a one-day challenge. It is a daily fight.
Join the movement. Register as an organ and tissue donor today and help the more than 103,000 waiting for a kidney and help move us closer to a world united for kidney health.