It’s early in the morning, we’re in a doctor’s waiting room, downing glass after glass of water on an empty stomach for our ultrasound scans and tests about to commence. This is a childhood memory we share as sisters, or cyst’ers, born with the same genetic condition: Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).

PKD is an incurable disease that runs its course over many years. It populates your kidneys with water-filled sacs (cysts), often causing high blood pressure and, eventually, kidney failure, requiring a kidney transplant. The ultimate treatment for PKD therefore relies largely on organ donations.

Despite its huge impact on lives it touches, many people have never heard of PKD, and PKD research is massively underfunded. In fact, less than 1% of all of the UK’s health funding goes to kidney disease, of which  only a fraction is dedicated to PKD.

So, this October, we are taking steps (yes, literally!) with the PKD Charity to increase awareness. We will walk 5K a day every day of the month — rain or shine! Please consider donating what you can, and, more importantly, share our message with someone else to help us grow our circle of care.

For more information about PKD, please visit: www.pkdcharity.org.uk