Freeman March O’ the Kidney Returns at New Location

Joplin, Mo – Freeman Health System invites you to help support patients with kidney disease through the March O’ the Kidney. This year’s walk will take place from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Saturday, May 8, on the south lawn of Freeman East, 932 East 34th Street.

March O’ the Kidney is a one-mile walk designed to raise awareness about kidney disease and to raise money for our Freeman Dialysis Fund.  Many dialysis patients undergo treatment three to four hours at a time, three times a week, which can interfere with their ability to work, making it difficult to pay for medical expenses, proper nutrition and transportation to transplant appointments.

Memory boards to honor a loved one will be available to sign at the event. Attendees can also enter raffles for donated items, including gift baskets, gift cards and many others. Food trucks will attend including Ghetto Tacos, Flounders and Smack Dab. Registration begins at 3:00 pm and t-shirts can be purchased the day of the event or in advance. If anyone has questions, they can contact Kennedy Thomas at krthomas@freemanhealth.com or 417.347.4624.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are causes of kidney disease, which impacts 37 million people in the United States – or one in seven adults. Chronic kidney disease does damage to the kidneys and decreases their ability to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. For some people, that’s when dialysis is necessary. Dialysis artificially removes waste products and extra fluid from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do so. It’s a lifesaving treatment as kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease.

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About Freeman Health System

Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020-2021. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.