Senator Joe Robach secured $20,000 in State funds for the purchase, lettering and insurance of a passanger/cargo van for the National Kidney Foundation of Upstate New York. Prior to the purchase of the van, the NKF of Upstate New York did not own a vehicle and relied on public transportation, which often was unable to meet their needs.
The van will be used for an array of programs and services. Specifically, it will provide transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment to kidney early evaluation programs, health fairs, blood pressure screening programs for African American churches, kidney patient seminars and kidney disease prevention classes, including the "Kidney Kids Club". In addition, the vehicle will allow the local NKF to serve the youth and elderly who are unable to provide or purchase their own transportation to special kidney disease related activities.
"Unfortunately, kidney disease is prevalent in the Rochester area. This van will assist the National Kidney Foundation of Upstate New York and the great work they do in the treatment and prevention of this devastating disease" stated Senator Robach.
More than 20 million Americans suffer from diseases of the kidney with 90,000 dying each year. In the greater Rochester area, 1360 Rochesterians suffer from chronic kidney failure and need an artificial kidney machine to stay alive. More than 270 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant at the University of Rochester.
