Living with kidney disease can leave people feeling low, isolated and trapped.
Many people spend up to eight hours, three times a week at hospital for dialysis treatment; often being forced to give up full time work and rely on welfare benefits, just to cope with the side effects of treatment.
The burden of treatment goes far beyond physical health. It impacts finances, mental wellbeing, and the ability to enjoy moments and activities that many take for granted.
For many of us, having a holiday is a given. But for someone on dialysis, it can feel impossible – not just because it's so difficult and stressful to arrange to have dialysis treatment away from your home unit, but also because the costs mean a break is out of reach.
Help us turn "I wish I'd been there . . ." into "I'm happy to be here" for those living with kidney disease.
Jo* hadn’t had a holiday for over 5 years - the grind of her life sustaining dialysis treatment left her mentally and physically exhausted. Here's what she had to say about the impact of kidney disease on her life when she came to us:
For nine years I have been on dialysis for my kidney failure and am desperate for a break. After suffering a failed transplant last year my life was turned upside down and I really suffered mentally and physically.
We helped Jo with a grant to cover the costs of taking a break from it all, but we need your help to support 1,000s more people like Jo this year.
Your support makes a difference
Kidney Care UK receives no funding from the government or the NHS. It's only thanks to our generous supporters that last more than a thousand kidney patients were able to take a much-needed respite break from endless hospital visits and treatment.
With your help, we provide:
- Financial grants to cover the costs of a holiday or respite break.
- Kidney Care UK Dialysis Freedom, a free service for UK patients and kidney units that organises all the logistics of booking Dialysis Away From Base in the UK.
- Expert patient information on our travel hub, covering everything from travel insurance to Dialysis Away From Base in the UK or abroad — so those affected by kidney disease can travel safely while still receiving life-saving treatment.
Too many people can only say, "I wish I'd been there" from a bed in a dialysis unit. Your gift will turn that into "I'm happy to be here".
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of those we help.