BLUE VALLEY STUDENTS, INSPIRED BY TEACHER, “ACT OUT” TO RAISE MONEY FOR POLYCYSTIC  
KIDNEY DISEASE RESEARCH

“Theater Olympics” competition to benefit PKD Foundation

(Stillwell, KS) April 21, 2006 — It’s not often that students are encouraged to “act out” in class. But for the Repertory Theater group at Blue Valley West High School, it is part of the curriculum and all to help a cause that is close to their teacher’s heart.

On May 4-5, students in this advanced acting class will compete in “Theater Olympics.” Two evenings of one-act plays will raise money for charities, which the students chose themselves.

Students Heather Peck and Chris Hammond selected the PKD Foundation as their charity of choice, in part because of their vocal music teacher, Phil Szajnuk. He underwent a kidney transplant operation in recent years and suffers from polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The Overland Park resident is a member of the Kansas City chapter of the PKD Foundation.

PKD is the world’s most common life-threatening genetic disease, affecting 1 in 500 people regardless of sex, age, race or ethnic origin. For the 600,000 Americans suffering from PKD, fluid-filled cysts grow on the kidneys. Over time, these cysts get bigger and multiply, often leading to kidney failure. Dialysis and transplantation are the only options. There is no treatment or cure, but there is hope.

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.

To arrange interviews, contact PKD Foundation Media Manager, Jennifer Robinson at (816) 268-8493 or jenniferr@pkdcure.org.