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Sheila's 2025 New York City Marathon Fundraising Page
Sheila Baldridge
Sheila Baldridge
Why I Run
In 2018, I donated my kidney in the world's largest living donor kidney transplant chain. My Uncle Timmy received his second kidney transplant and an anonymous recipient received my kidney thanks to the all the generous people in this chain. Many other members of my family have been impacted by Polycystic Kidney Disease as well - I run for them.
In 1994, my beloved grandfather passed away from PKD after living with kidney disease for 25 years. His mother died from PKD at the young age of 51 (before the days of dialysis).
In 1996, my Uncle Timmy was diagnosed with PKD and in 1998, his sister donated her kidney to him. This was my Uncle Timmy's first kidney transplant.
In 2012, my mom donated her kidney to her brother, my Uncle Jerry, who was diagnosed with PKD in 1983.
In 2016, my Uncle Timmy's first kidney transplant began to fail and he was put on dialysis for 18 months until our miracle kidney transplant chain in May of 2018. I am forever grateful that fate allowed us to be eligible for that chain, and I'm especially thankful for the doctors and nurses at RWJBarnabas Health in Livingston, New Jersey for saving so many lives through this chain.
Although I haven’t gotten the opportunity to meet the recipient of my kidney, I think of them often. I hope they are living their life to the fullest (especially if that means they're out there running too!)... Donating my kidney has given me a new appreciation for every moment in life. Three years ago, I decided to run my first marathon with the PKD Foundation. I ran the Chicago Marathon in just over 4 hours, entirely fueled by the generous donations I received - I raised over $7,000 for the PKD Foundation for that race. Fast forward to 2025, this will be my third marathon and I am humbled to be a member of Team Kidney and run for such an incredible cause.
I've experienced the pain and anxiety families go through after a PKD diagnosis first hand. It saddens me to know that 37 million American adults are currently living with kidney disease, and another 1 in 3 people are at risk for kidney disease. I run because more than 1 in 7 people have some type of kidney disease, but aren’t aware, and I want to do my part to decrease those statistics.
The National Kidney Foundation was the first to identify kidney disease as a distinct, treatable illness. They developed the staged system of kidney disease diagnosis and treatment – a worldwide standard today – and they constantly release and update treatment guidelines to improve patient care.
If you are able to join me in making these advances in Kidney Disease possible, I would be so grateful for any donation to my fundraising page you are able to give. Every little bit counts to help get me to the finish line - and more importantly, to help support kidney disease research and treatment.
Forever thankful for your support,
Sheila
In 2018, I donated my kidney in the world's largest living donor kidney transplant chain. My Uncle Timmy received his second kidney transplant and an anonymous recipient received my kidney thanks to the all the generous people in this chain. Many other members of my family have been impacted by Polycystic Kidney Disease as well - I run for them.
In 1994, my beloved grandfather passed away from PKD after living with kidney disease for 25 years. His mother died from PKD at the young age of 51 (before the days of dialysis).
In 1996, my Uncle Timmy was diagnosed with PKD and in 1998, his sister donated her kidney to him. This was my Uncle Timmy's first kidney transplant.
In 2012, my mom donated her kidney to her brother, my Uncle Jerry, who was diagnosed with PKD in 1983.
In 2016, my Uncle Timmy's first kidney transplant began to fail and he was put on dialysis for 18 months until our miracle kidney transplant chain in May of 2018. I am forever grateful that fate allowed us to be eligible for that chain, and I'm especially thankful for the doctors and nurses at RWJBarnabas Health in Livingston, New Jersey for saving so many lives through this chain.
Although I haven’t gotten the opportunity to meet the recipient of my kidney, I think of them often. I hope they are living their life to the fullest (especially if that means they're out there running too!)... Donating my kidney has given me a new appreciation for every moment in life. Three years ago, I decided to run my first marathon with the PKD Foundation. I ran the Chicago Marathon in just over 4 hours, entirely fueled by the generous donations I received - I raised over $7,000 for the PKD Foundation for that race. Fast forward to 2025, this will be my third marathon and I am humbled to be a member of Team Kidney and run for such an incredible cause.
I've experienced the pain and anxiety families go through after a PKD diagnosis first hand. It saddens me to know that 37 million American adults are currently living with kidney disease, and another 1 in 3 people are at risk for kidney disease. I run because more than 1 in 7 people have some type of kidney disease, but aren’t aware, and I want to do my part to decrease those statistics.
The National Kidney Foundation was the first to identify kidney disease as a distinct, treatable illness. They developed the staged system of kidney disease diagnosis and treatment – a worldwide standard today – and they constantly release and update treatment guidelines to improve patient care.
If you are able to join me in making these advances in Kidney Disease possible, I would be so grateful for any donation to my fundraising page you are able to give. Every little bit counts to help get me to the finish line - and more importantly, to help support kidney disease research and treatment.
Forever thankful for your support,
Sheila
APR
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