Kidney Month Bingo Challenge 2023 March is National Kidney Month, and this year we decided to do something extra special… introducing the NephCure Kidney Month Bingo Challenge! Participating is easy: Download the bingo card. Complete any of the RKD-related activities you’d like and mark them off as you go. Submit your card with at least 1-2 activities completed by Friday, March 31 to receive a NephCure prize, supported by our sponsors! These activities aim to inspire you along your journey, empower you to share your story living with rare kidney disease, and encourage you to step outside of your norms and take action in the community. See below for additional instructions. Happy Kidney Month! DOWNLOAD BINGO CARD SUBMIT COMPLETED CARD Make a kidney-friendly dishMake a kidney-friendly dish from NephCure's Low-Sodium, Kidney-Friendly Cookbook and take a picture or video of the final product! Share to your social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. View and download our cookbook here. Share your storyYour story is powerful. Share your RKD journey with us online at NephCure.org. We review every story we receive, and spotlight them on our website and social media to raise awareness and provide hope for other patients and families. Share your favorite inspirational quoteShare your favorite inspirational quote, mantra, or poem that keeps you going in your kidney disease journey by posting it on your social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. Sign up for the NephCure Monthly NewsletterSign up for the NephCure Monthly Newsletter to receive our latest resources, recent news in the kidney community, research articles and updates, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events, such as support groups, educational webinars, in-person fundraisers, and more. This is the best way to stay informed on all things rare kidney disease! Click here to sign up! Creatively express your RKD journeySharing your lived experience with rare kidney disease doesn’t need to be in the typical written paragraph format. We encourage you to think outside the box and tap into your creativity. You can draw, paint, write a poem, make a collage, take a picture, write a song — anything! Your journey is unique to you, so we want you to spotlight it in any creative way that resonates with you. Share your creation with us by posting to social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. RKD & Me: Write a letter to your younger selfThrough the RKD and Me campaign, people in the rare kidney disease community are writing to their younger selves, sharing their challenges, triumphs, and experiences living with RKD. Write a letter to your younger self — share advice, information about your disease, or anything else you would have wanted your younger self to know. Submit your letter (and read others' letters) at RKDandMe.com. Share a photo of your day-to-day RKD realityTake a photo showing your day-to-day reality living with rare kidney disease. (medications, doctors' appointments, dialysis, bad symptom days, etc.), and post on social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. Follow NephCure on social mediaWhether you’re new to NephCure or have been part of our community for a while, there is plenty of content to explore to help you on your journey! You can find and follow us on: Instagram: @NephCure TikTok: @NephCure Facebook: NephCure Kidney International LinkedIn: NephCure Kidney International Twitter: @NephCure YouTube: @NephCure Film a video sharing your storyFilm a video sharing your story with us, then share on social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth! It can be as short or as long as you’d like. Read below for helpful (and recommended) hints and prompts for self-recording a stellar video. Please be sure to record your video in natural lighting! Record yourself against a plain wall, and make sure the natural light is not obstructing your view. Please shoot in landscape mode (horizontal), or portrait mode (vertical). Either one will work! Your face should appear in the center of the frame, just below the shoulders and up. When recording, please tell us details about your journey! When you were first diagnosed, what your diagnosis was, or any information about your journey! How has NephCure supported or empowered you on your RKD journey? Please end the video with the following prompt: 'Thank you, NephCure!' Overall, have fun! Just be yourself! We know videos can be uncomfortable, so try your best to be creative and have fun with it! Make the video yours! Try this nephrotic syndrome home experiment The kidneys are responsible for cleaning our blood. The kidneys’ filters gather waste products and eliminate them in the form of urine. For RKD patients, this nephrotic syndrome experiment provides a visual demonstration of how your kidneys are not functioning properly. This is a quick and easy educational activity that can be done at home, either by yourself or with your family. Take a video or photo and post on social media using the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth! Click here for experiment instructions. Complete a self-care wellness activitySelf-care wellness activities like taking a walk, riding a bike, meditating, practicing yoga, reading a book, or doing a simple mental health self-check-in can be incredibly helpful for mental and physical wellness, especially when living with RKD. take a photo while completing any wellness activity you choose, and post it to social media using #NephCureKidneyMonth. Share how NephCure has helped you in your RKD journeyEvery journey with RKD is different, which is why we want to hear about how NephCure has impacted yours. Have we helped you in your time of need? What resources have helped you the most? Post a photo or video telling us how we've made a difference in your journey, and make sure to use the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. Start a fundraiserNo matter how large or small, every fundraising effort makes a difference. You can help raise money for NephCure by: Starting a Facebook or Instagram fundraiser Setting up a tribute or memorial donation page Planning or participating in a community event, such as a walk, a volleyball tournament, a day of bowling, etc., and more! Click here to learn more about starting a fundraiser for NephCure. If you're interested in planning a community fundraising event, please email events@nephcure.org. Become or Recruit a CureMakerJoin NephCure's monthly giving program and become a CureMaker. Share your experience on social media using #NephCureKidneyMonth. Visit the NephCure Action Center to connect with your legislatorsVisit the NephCure Action Center to find and connect with your legislators. Feel free to share your experience on social media using the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth! Join the NephCure Action Network (NCAN)Join the NephCure Action Network (NCAN) to help save kidneys and save lives through advocating for lasting legislative and policy improvements. Click here to join the movement. Share a NephCure resource with a friend or family memberShare a NephCure resource listed on our website with a friend or family member. This can be any resource you see fit. You can share your experience using social media and use #NephCureKidneyMonth! Click here to access our resources. Share your favorite NephCure memoryThrough a photo, video, or simply through text, share your favorite NephCure memory with us! If you're new to NephCure, feel free to share your favorite memory with family and/or friends. Remember to post on social media and use the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth! Get out and volunteerOur NephCure volunteers are truly invaluable, helping us achieve our mission through their service, generosity, and dedication. For this activity of our Kidney Month Bingo Challenge, get out and volunteer! Whether it’s for NephCure or a different organization with a cause you care about, snap a photo and post with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. Click here to learn more about NephCure’s variety of volunteer opportunities. Attend a NephCure virtual support groupEach of our support groups offers a safe, informal space for patients and families living with rare, protein-spilling kidney disease to connect with others who have similar lived experiences. Here’s the rundown: Our Peer Connections adult support group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. ET. Our NephCure Teens support group meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. ET. Our Parents’ Place parent support group meets on the third Monday of each month at 8 p.m. ET. Our Dialysis and Transplant support group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m. ET. Click here to check out our upcoming support group schedule (and register in time for our Kidney Month Bingo Challenge!). Meet up with someone else in the RKD communityDuring Kidney Month, we encourage you to meet up with others in the RKD community! Learn their story, connect with them personally, and share resources to support one another. Snap and share a photo on social media using the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth. We can’t wait to see all your photos together! Explore the Get Involved page on NephCure.orgThere are so many different ways you can get involved with NephCure and make a difference. From volunteering, to fundraising, to joining your Regional NephCure Community, to participating in advocacy and more, we have opportunities big and small for those at any stage in their disease journey. Visit the Get Involved tab on NephCure.org to explore the options and find the ideal opportunity for you! Talk to your doctor about NephCureSpeak with your doctor about NephCure and ask if they can share NephCure resources with other patients! Explore KidneyHealthGateway.comBrowse KidneyHealthGateway.com to see if you qualify for a clinical trial or to find an RKD specialist in your area. Tell us how this tool has helped you in your journey by sharing on social media with the hashtag #NephCureKidneyMonth! If you’d like to support NephCure during Kidney Month, please consider donating. Every dollar makes a difference! DONATE HERE Special thanks to our 2023 Kidney Month sponsors.