Despite kidney disease affecting 1 in 10 people worldwide, there is still not enough awareness about the condition. Sadly, many people don’t realise how important their kidneys are until they stop working properly.
Find out about World Kidney Day
World Kidney Day is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys. On Thursday 14 March 2024, help us bring millions of people together to share the message that kidneys matter.
Help put kidney disease in the spotlight
Talk about your experiences with your friends, family, colleagues, your social media followers and local media – sharing what it is like to live with kidney disease will really help to raise awareness.
The Kidney Charities Together group (Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, the National Kidney Federation (NKF), the UK Kidney Association, Kidney Wales, Popham Kidney Support and the PKD Charity) will be sharing lots of posts from the World Kidney Day UK social media channels as well as their own charity pages.
Shine a light on kidney health
At 7pm on Thursday 14 March, please light a candle, shine a torch and share our social media assets online. Shine your light for yourself, your donor, your loved ones – let's turn the skies and social media yellow this World Kidney Day. Follow Kidney Care UK on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn to share your photo in the social space you prefer.
Show your support at work
Ask your employer if they will let you mark World Kidney Day and raise awareness of why kidneys matter with your colleagues. You could hold a cake sale, organise a workplace tombola and raise funds for Kidney Care UK or make fundraising your first order of business with an early morning group exercise or yoga session, followed by a healthy kickstart breakfast. Look through more ideas for how to raise awareness and funds for Kidney Care UK in the workplace.
World Kidney Day is a great chance to highlight that 3.5 million people in the UK have chronic kidney disease (CKD), so everyone is likely to know someone who is affected.
Dedicate the day to someone who has made a difference
Add your dedication and thanks to our Kidney Celebrations page and read the stories and experiences of other people living with kidney disease. It's completely free to share your stories, pictures and thoughts and remember the people who have been by your side during your kidney journey.
Support your local kidney team at a WKD event
Awareness events to get people talking about kidneys (and an opportunity to raise funds) are taking place around the UK on Thursday 14 March.
Find details of WKD events near you, or share details of your own event, on the WKD website.
We hope to see you at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, St George's Hospital (London), Manchester Royal Infirmary, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Manchester), Ninewells Hospital (Dundee), Broomfield Hospital (Chelmsford), Morriston Hospital (Cwmrhydyceirw, Swansea), Bradford Kidney Patients Association, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex, Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading), Belfast City Hospital, Royal Cornwall Hospital (Truro), Altnagelvin Hospital (Derry / Londonderry), Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (Gloucester), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Birmingham), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Mountainhall Treatment centre (Dumfries). Or ask your local unit if they have World Kidney Day plans and you could join them to help support the kidney community.