On Saturday, Sept. 16, Kathryn Leibovic said "I do" to the man who pledged his love and life to save her mother from the devastating effects of polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

Their wedding took place just one year after Brian Cerise donated his kidney to Kathryn’s mother and best friend, Elin Robbins-Geman, who Denver doctors said was dangerously close to kidney failure.

It also marked the anniversary of Kathryn’s involvement in the PKD Foundation’s national fundraiser, the Walk for PKD, which kicked off last weekend in cities across the country.

Last year, Kathryn’s team, Elin’s Chutzpa, was the Denver Walk for PKD’s top fundraiser at $16,000. This year, Kathryn hoped to raise $4,000 more. By raising $20,000 for PKD research and awareness, Kathryn wants to educate others about a disease she’s now inherited from her mother.

To help her out, about 100 of Kathryn and Brian’s 230 wedding guests participated in their own Walk for PKD. Their “mock” Walk began at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 following Saturday’s wedding ceremony and reception and traversed about a half a mile around the scenic mountain hotel grounds.

Thanks to dedicated volunteers like Kathryn and her family, the Walk for PKD was a huge success! We have met our goal of $2.2 million and expect to surpass it once all the money is in and counted!

You can help too! Although the Walk for PKD is finished, fundraising for PKD research is not!

Click here to make a donation and help the PKD Foundation reach its vision that "no one suffers the full effects of PKD!"