For Immediate Release
May 20, 2020
GLENDALE, CA — Renal Support Network (RSN), a nonprofit, patient-run organization, encourages people with kidney disease to share their inspirational stories by entering their 18th Annual Essay Contest. This year’s theme is “Thriving No Matter What I Can or Can’t Eat: A Happy Food Experience on the Kidney Diet.”
RSN’s Annual Essay Contest provides a unique opportunity for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including people who have CKD, are on dialysis or have a kidney transplant, to have a voice and express their ideas, methods, coping strategies and most importantly to RSN, hope. It is a chance to share interesting food anecdotes and discoveries that have improved health, well-being, and the daily routine of living with a chronic illness where smart food choices are a key element.
Lori Hartwell, RSN’s founder and president, author of Chronically Happy: Joyful Living in Spite of Chronic Illness and host of KidneyTalk Podcast, says, “People who live successfully with a chronic illness like kidney disease know firsthand the importance of having an innovative perspective and strategy not only toward their illness, but also toward life in general.” She added, “There is an abundance of talent within the renal patient community, and the RSN Essay Contest provides people who have kidney disease with a forum where they can share their experiences, strengths, hope and inspire others. I look forward to hearing about people’s flavorful food experiences.”
All submissions must be written by someone who has been diagnosed with CKD and must be a maximum of 750 words.
Contest winners will receive cash prizes: First Place, $500; Second Place, $300; and Third Place, $100. The submission deadline is August 10, 2020. Winners will be announced on the week of September 21, 2020, and winning essays will be featured in RSN’s publication KidneyTalk™ Magazine and on RSNHope.org.
For information about the contest, rules and to read previous winning essays, visit https://www.rsnhope.org/essay-contest.
RSN would like to thank Akebia, AstraZeneca, Fresenius Kidney Care, National Renal Administrators Association and U.S. Renal Care for their support of this valuable patient engagement program.
—————————————————————————————–
The Renal Support Network (RSN) is a nonprofit patient-run organization that provides non-medical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease. RSN strives to help patients (dialysis, kidney transplant, and newly diagnosed patients) develop their personal coping skills, special talents, and employability by educating and empowering them to take control of the course and management of the disease. www.RSNhope.org.
