Did you know that March is National Kidney Month? It’s a great time for people with rare kidney diseases like complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and immune complex mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) to raise awareness about these conditions.

If you’re not sure how to get involved, you’re not alone. Talking about a medical condition can be hard. You want people to care, but you also don’t want them to treat you differently.

If you’d like to participate in National Kidney Month but don’t know where to start, here are some ideas. You can choose one or more of these ways to help raise awareness.

Understand Your Kidney Disease

Raising awareness starts with learning more about your condition. Take time to understand rare kidney diseases in general or dive deeper into your specific diagnosis. The American Kidney Fund website is a good place to start. It has clear, easy-to-understand information about many kidney conditions.

Learning more about rare and chronic kidney diseases can help you feel less stressed about living with one. It can also help you know what to look for, what to expect, and when to talk to your healthcare provider about your kidney care or kidney function.

When you understand your condition, it’s easier to talk about it with others. You can’t share what you don’t know, so learning more helps you start conversations about what it’s like to live with a kidney disease.

Raise Awareness in Your Circles

Raising awareness can be as simple as talking about rare kidney diseases with the people around you. If your friends and family don’t know about your diagnosis, start by telling them. Explain what condition you have and how it affects your kidneys. You can also explain how to treat your condition and what your future might look like. For example, you might talk about your risk of kidney failure or whether you’ll need a kidney transplant. If you’re on dialysis, you can explain what that involves.

Sharing this information can help people understand you better. It also shows them that there are people all around them who may be living with rare kidney diseases. This might encourage them to support kidney causes or even get checked for kidney issues themselves, which could lead to early detection.

Post on Social Media

Posting on social media is a great way to raise awareness without talking to people directly. If you’re not feeling well or aren’t ready for face-to-face conversations, social media lets you share your message comfortably.

You can post about anything related to kidney disease. Share facts, talk about how living with a kidney disease affects your daily life, or post links to helpful resources. Organizations like the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) and NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) have flyers, videos, and posts you can share on social media platforms.

Remember, you don’t have to share more than you’re comfortable with. Even small steps, like posting about a doctor’s appointment or taking a day off work because of your condition, can help people understand what life with kidney disease is like.

Donate to Kidney Causes

Many organizations focus on research and clinical trials for rare kidney diseases. You can support NephCure, which works to find treatments and cures for rare kidney diseases. They offer many ways to donate. The American Kidney Fund also accepts donations and provides various options for giving.

Even small donations can make a big difference in advancing research about rare kidney diseases. If you don’t have money to give, you could donate a car you no longer use, or organize a fundraiser. The American Kidney Fund offers a variety of options for creating online fundraisers, hosting events, or setting up corporate fundraisers.

Volunteer for Kidney Causes

Organizations that work on treatments and cures for rare kidney diseases often need volunteers. With NephCure, you can:

• Share your own journey about living with a rare kidney disease.
• Support others who have been diagnosed.
• Join a team that advocates for policy changes.

The American Kidney Fund also offers volunteer opportunities. You can become a kidney health coach through their online learning program or join the team to help change laws to improve health equity for people with kidney disease at the federal or local level.

Before volunteering, make sure you have the time and energy. If your kidney disease leaves you feeling tired or stressed, it’s OK to wait. Your health comes first. You can always volunteer later when you’re feeling better.

Organize or Attend an Awareness Event

Many kidney disease awareness events happen in March and throughout the year. Attending one shows others that people care about people with rare kidney diseases. If you have the energy, organizing or helping with one of these events can make you feel empowered when it comes to your rare kidney disease.

NephCure has a whole calendar of both in-person and online events. They offer advocacy days, fine dining banquets, breakfasts, and meetups to learn and connect with other people living with rare kidney diseases, bingo games, support groups, and an educational summit.

You can also join Kidney Action Week, hosted by the American Kidney Fund. This informative online event offers a variety of sessions about kidney health.

There may be other events around you, too. If you’re feeling creative, you could even organize your own event, like a walk or run to raise awareness in your community. Standing out can help more people learn about rare kidney diseases.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyKidneyDiseaseTeam is the social network for people with kidney disease and their loved ones. On MyKidneyDiseaseTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with kidney disease.

Do you plan to do anything for National Kidney Month? What are you going to do? Share your plans in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.