5th Annual Tour DaVita™ Benefits The Kidney TRUST – “Why I Ride

On September 18, 2011 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts over 400 dedicated riders will climb on their bikes and head into the New England countryside for a three-day, 250-mile adventure to increase awareness of chronic kidney disease and raise funds to fight CKD.

 This year’s Tour DaVita will include more than 400 DaVita teammates, family members, doctors, vendors, government officials, and others from the kidney disease community.  Funds raised through the ride will once again benefit The Kidney TRUST.  More information about the ride is available at

The TRUST will be providing free kidney disease screening at the Tour.  As part of our thank you to the riders we will once again be distributing specially-designed TRUST bike jerseys to a randomly chosen group of riders who participated in our “Why I Ride” call for submissions.  We received so many heartfelt and inspirational messages . . . here are just a few that stood out to us.

“I’m riding for those that would, but can’t.”

“Because getting my butt on a bike might keep one less butt out of a dialysis chair.”

“I am riding to raise awareness about the overwhelming prevalence of kidney disease in the general population. The earlier the detection, the better the fight.”

“I am riding in memory of my father who passed away over forty years ago from renal failure at a time when there was little knowledge about kidney failure.”

“When they begin dialysis, patients are faced with a situation outside their comfort zone and by riding in Tour DaVita I am taken outside my own comfort zone and offered just a glimpse of the difficulty of their challenge.”

“I am riding in the tour because as a transplant recipient I want to be a role model for those with kidney challenges. There is light at the end of the tunnel!!!”

“I am riding in Tour DaVita to honor the patients I take care of everyday.  If I can help to raise awareness about kidney disease and just one person can delay or prevent starting dialysis through CKD screening, then I will feel fulfilled.”