Earlier this year my wonderful wife Melanie was admitted to hospital with critically high blood pressure following numerous nights waking up with a severe headache.  From the tests that followed Melanie was diagnosed with stage 4 Chronic Kidney disease and told her kidneys were only functioning at 20%. The hospital at this stage were unsure what had caused this and so Melanie had a biopsy which confirmed that it is a condition called Iga Nephropathy which is affecting her kidneys. 

Fast forward a few months and Melanies kidney function is now at 9% and she has moved into Stage 5 CKD and in the near future will have to start dialisys and go on the transplant list.

This has been a huge shock to us all and it has been really difficult coming to terms with things and seeing Melanie exhausted and not being her usual bubbly self. As Melanie is going to have a big fight ahead of her I want to do what I can to help, so first up am taking part in the #850CycleChallenge by cycling 850km in 85 days. I have not been on a bike for a long time but I am determined to complete this for Melanie and Kidney Research so please support me the best you can as there are currently 850 million people worldwide living with kidney disease and it is the ninth top cause of death. 

Kidney Research UK has never been more important. Kidney disease ruins and destroys lives. Research is key to transforming kidney health and support is crucial to make this happen. Please donate whatever you can, every donation will help to keep research going and help kidney patients. Kidney disease ends here.

Love Darren