UNITED STATES SENATE DECLARES SEPTEMBER 10-16
“NATIONAL POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (PKD) AWARENESS WEEK”

Event coincides with Walk for PKD effort to raise more than $2 million for PKD research

(Washington, DC) Friday, September 8, 2006 — The United States Senate today recognized polycystic kidney disease (PKD) with a national awareness week.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is the world’s most common, life-threatening genetic disease. It affects more people than Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia and hemophilia combined. 600,000 Americans suffer from PKD. Cysts grown on their kidneys and eventually the kidneys fail. There is no treatment or cure for PKD.

The resolution, S.R. 564, introduced by Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio and co-sponsored by Senator Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin, recognizes September 10-16, 2006 as National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week. This coincides with the PKD Foundation’s Walk for PKD events in more than 60 cities across the country.

“PKD affects more than 600,000 Americans and it deserves all the research money and public attention that we can muster,” said Senator DeWine. “I introduced this resolution in order to raise awareness of this disease and encourage more research that leads to improved treatments. With improved treatments, we can not only save the lives of PKD patients, but also save billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid spending. In addition we can offer hope to family members that we will someday stop this hereditary disease.”

PKD Foundation President and CEO Dan Larson added, “The U.S. Senate’s PKD Awareness Week designation draws national attention to the world’s most common life-threatening genetic disease (PKD) and the PKD Foundation’s efforts to educate the public and Congress about it. This resolution also gives hope to those who suffer from PKD - that their advocacy will help spur congressional action toward finding a cure.”

The not-for-profit PKD Foundation is the only organization, worldwide, dedicated to finding a treatment and a cure for this devastating disease. For more information about PKD and the PKD Foundation, visit www.pkdcure.org or call 1-800-PKD-CURE.

PKD patients and families are willing to share their stories of hope. To arrange interviews in your community, contact Media Manager Jennifer Robinson at jenniferr@pkdcure.org or (816) 268-8493.