Ray Hennings: Tour DaVita Rider

Unlike many people who “crash” into dialysis unaware that they have kidney disease, Ray Hennings knew for many years that his kidneys were on borrowed time.  Like his mother, sister and cousin, Ray has polycistic kidney disease or PKD and has known since his mid-20’s that kidney failure was a possibility.  Polycystic kidney disease is a kidney disorder passed down through families in which many cysts form in the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged. 

Now 59, Ray’s kidneys failed just over a year ago and he’s been on dialysis ever since.  He is on the list for a kidney transplant, but knows that it could be two or three years before he makes it to the top of the list.

“I came into dialysis with my eyes open because of what my family has gone through,” said Ray in a recent interview.  “I concentrate on taking things one day at a time.  I can’t control when I’ll get a kidney, but there are things I can do every day, like cycling, to improve my health.”

Ray, who lives in Aloha, Oregon near Portland has a background in information technology and is completing his masters from Portland State University in Geographic Information Systems or GIS.  He and his wife Lori, a natural resources scientist, share a love of the outdoors and Ray sees GIS as a way of bringing his technology work out into the open air.

Ray is a dedicated cyclist, so tackling the Tour DaVita® comes naturally to him.  He’s been cycling for 25 years and in that time has done ten double centuries (200 mile/day rides) and ridden the week-long Cycle Oregon 19 times.  He’ll be riding in South Carolina with a friend from Connecticut, Tom Rasmussen, who has done the Tour for the last three years and encouraged Ray to participate. 

“Kidney failure and dialysis definitely have a big impact on your life.  It’s added a year or two to the time it’s taken me to finish my masters,” continued Ray.  “But I’m pleased about the way I’ve been able to build up my strength and distance on my bike and will be pushing on the Tour to see what I can do.”

Ray concluded, “If I’m able to inspire or educate others on dialysis about what’s possible, I’ll feel like I’ve made an impact.”