Comedian to Help Fight Kidney Disease
October 4, 2005
Comedian George Lopez is getting serious about a mission that's close to
his heart, or rather, his kidney. The co-creator and star of the hit ABC
sitcom "George Lopez" and his wife, Ann, have been named national
spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
Lopez's wife donated a kidney to him last April. Lopez suffered from a
genetic condition that caused his kidneys to deteriorate, and needed the
transplant in order to survive. Now he plans to spread the word about the
need for early detection of kidney disease and the critical shortage of
donated organs for transplantation.
"If laughter is the best medicine, I promise to continue to make you laugh
as my wife and I work together with the National Kidney Foundation to save
lives," says Lopez.
"One in nine American adults has chronic kidney disease and most don't even
know it," says Fred Brown, the foundation's Chairman. "We're committed to
reaching those at risk and know that George Lopez's popularity, humor and
personal experience with kidney disease will help us reach out to help more
people."
Ann and George Lopez will serve as Honorary Chairmen of the foundation's
Kidney Walk Program, a series of nearly 100 walks held every year in cities
across the country. He's also planning to join Team Southern California at
the NKF's 2006 U.S. Transplant Games, an Olympic-style event for recipients
of every type of life-saving organ transplant, to be held in Louisville,
Kentucky next June. Lopez will be going for the gold in his favorite
sport-golf. More than 2,000 athletes who have received transplants of
kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and bone marrow, will compete for gold,
silver and bronze medals in a dozen events, including track and field,
swimming, cycling, racquetball and basketball.
Lopez was recently cited by Time magazine as "one of the 25 most influential
Hispanics in America." With a population of some 41.3 million, Hispanics
now comprise the nation's largest ethnic minority. "Latinos are a group that
is at high risk for kidney disease. My wife and I look forward to helping
the NKF raise public awareness about the importance of screening and early
detection in the fight against kidney disease," says Lopez.
Lopez has been selling Donate Life charity bracelets on his web site to
benefit the National Kidney Foundation. He has designated a block of tickets
for an October 8 event at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA, An Evening of
Comedy: The "Who Told You That?" concert to benefit the National Kidney
Foundation of Southern California.
The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary
tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and
families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all
organs for transplantation.
Catherine Paykin, MSSW
Transplant Programs Director
National Kidney Foundation
30 E. 33rd St.
New York, NY 10016
800/622-9010x144
212/889-2210 x144
cathyp@kidney.org