From left to right back row: Akeem Boneparte, Senior; Nikiya Coleman, Freshman; Ebony Brown, Freshman; Norman O’Neal, Junior;

From left to right front row: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter; Ms. Melanie Sweat, Service Coordinator for the Program for Service Learning and Community Service; Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, President; Ms. Beth Irick, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina; Savannah Foster, Freshman.

Claflin Sponsors 342 Walkers in Orangeburg Kidney Walk

President Henry N. Tisdale, staff and students gathered March 19, 2007 on the steps of Tingley Memorial Hall to receive First Place Award from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) for sponsoring the most walkers in the Kidney Walk of Orangeburg held October 23, 2006.  Ms. Melanie Sweat and Mrs. Carolyn Snell, both who are members of the Division of Student Development and Services, rallied 342 faculty, staff and students to participate in the event which included individuals from the Orangeburg and surrounding communities.  Also, Claflin faculty, staff and students made a generous donation of $1,541.00 to the foundation.

Ms. Beth Irick, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina, and Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, chairperson for the local Kidney Foundation Campaign, presented the award to President Tisdale and the Claflin Family. 

Representative Cobb-Hunter, an advocate for the Kidney Foundation, commenting about the Kidney Walk of Orangeburg and Claflin’s participation, said, “It is crucial that we help people to understand the need for early detection of kidney disease. Claflin’s exceptional participation demonstrates that the Kidney Walk brings the community together for a noble cause.”

According to the NKF, 20 million people have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at risk.  The Kidney Walk presents an occasion for dialysis patients, organ transplant recipients, donor families, transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, the medical communities, and the general public to celebrate LIFE and support the mission of the NKF.