2023 Kidney Walk sees hundreds with return to Salisbury, connects community with local resources

SALISBURY, Md.- “It’s been up and down. I have my days,” Brown said.

Those are Salisbury native Bubby Brown’s words describing life after being diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney disease back in February 2022.

“That day was kind of scary,” Brown said.

Sunday, he and his group of supportive friends and family known as ‘Bubs Love’ and more than 200 others laced up their sneakers for the 2023 Salisbury Kidney Walk. It marked the return of the event after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicole Scharf with the National Kidney Foundation serving Maryland/Delaware says kidney disease is often undetected as symptoms aren’t present in the early stages.

She says that’s why the walk is important, to not only raise awareness and money but connect the community to local resources. “We want to catch folks on the front end. We want to teach folks healthy eating habits, diet, and exercise. Those are actually things that can slow the progression of kidney disease,” Scharf said.

Now nearly 15 months into dialysis, Brown still awaits a kidney transplant. “I coach basketball and this year I had to tell my kids that I didn’t know if I was going to make it through the whole season because if I get that call, I’m gone,” Brown said.

Even when things get dark for him, family tell us they’re his light. “His fight is our fight. We support him every day through at-home dialysis, going to different doctor’s appointments, or staying in the hospital all night. We do whatever it takes,” Bubby’s Sister Monika Brittingham said.

The National Kidney Foundation tells us they expect to hit their goal of raising $20,000. Scharf says that money goes to support them kidney patients with transportation to and from treatment, food, rent relief, and more.

The foundation also says those looking to become a living donor can do so as long as they’re in good health.

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