Strut Your Kidney - a dash for NW Kidney Kids (Vamos a Caminar Con Orgullo Su Riñón - una carrera para “NW Kidney Kids” )

Strut Your Kidney - Hybrid - 5K, 10K, Family Fun Run/Walk/Roll or Virtual

Strut Your Kidney to celebrate, honor, and raise awareness for children with chronic kidney disease. All proceeds raised will go to Northwest Kidney Kids, the only organization supporting children with kidney disease and their families in the Northwest. Let's come together as a community so celebrate and fundraise for our amazing kidney families!

Here is how it works...

Step 1. Register to run/walk/roll or our fun run and invite your friends to join!

Step 2. Help NW Kidney Kids raise more awareness and financial support for children with kidney disease and their families.

Step 3. Run/walk/roll with us in person on Sunday September 21st 2025 or on your own and on your own time! 
*If on your own, submit your time and a finishing photo to be added to the Strut Your Kidney results leader board. Post a picture of your run to Facebook or Instagram using #strutyourkidney.

*For registrations after September 1st we can not guarantee swag availability.

SPONSORS

If you would like to sponsor or make a donation, please contact Maggie@nwkidneykids.org!

Major thank you to Eclectic Edge Racing for being our 2025 Timing Company!

Check out their website!

Español:

Caminé con Orgullo Su Riñón - Carrera divertida familiar de 1 milla, 5k, 10k o virtual

Caminé Con Orgullo Su Riñón es para celebrar y crear conciencia para los niños que sufren de enfermedades crónicas de los riñones. Todas las ganancias serán para “Northwest Kidney Kids”, la única organización que apoya a niños con enfermedades de riñón y a sus familias en el Noroeste.  Vamos a juntarnos como comunidad, pero manteniendo la distancia, para apoyar esta gran causa.

Así es como funciona…

Paso # 1. Registrate para correr/caminar/hacer cualquier otra actividad en el maratón. Y/O participar en la carrera de diversión ¡Invita a tus amigos a participar!

Paso # 2. Ayude a NW Kidney Kids a crear más conciencia y apoyo financiero para los niños con enfermedad renal y sus familias.

Paso # 3. ¡Corre / camina / rueda con nosotros en persona el domingo 21 de septiembre de 2025 o por tu cuenta y en tu tiempo libre!
* Si está solo, envíe su tiempo y una foto final para que se agreguen a la tabla de clasificación de resultados de Strut Your Kidney. Publica una foto de tu carrera en Facebook o Instagram usando #strutyourkidney.

*Para aquellos que se registren después del primero de septiembre, no podemos garantizar la disponibilidad de las máscaras.

PATROCINADORES

Si desea patrocinar o hacer una donación por favor contactarse con Maggie@nwkidneykids.org!

The Strut's out and back 1 mile Fun Run course takes you from the Sellwood Riverfront Park, behind the Riverpark Business Center building, crossing over Spokane Street at the dead-end, and onto the south Spokane Street sidewalk. From there we will head east taking a right at Grand Street (remaining on the sidewalk), taking the pedestrian ramp onto and across 2/3rds of the NORTH side of the Sellwood Bridge, then turning around on the bridge to head back along the NORTH side of the bridge again. When you are on Grand Ave heading North you will cross over Spokane St and follow the sidewalk heading West along Spokane St. At the Riverpark Business Center sign take the little path/sidewalk to the right heading North. Follow that path and then loop around the Sellwood Riverfront Park counter-clockwise back through the Start/Finish Arch. *We will have volunteers guiding you at every turn but please be aware that we need to abide by all traffic laws.

The Strut's out-and-back 10K course takes you from the Sellwood Riverfront Park, behind the Riverpark Business Center building, crossing over Spokane Street at the dead-end, and onto the south Spokane Street sidewalk. From there, we will head east, taking a right at Grand Street (remaining on the sidewalk), taking the pedestrian ramp onto and across the NORTH side of the Sellwood Bridge.  After crossing Sellwood Bridge, follow the sidewalk to the right and as it “zig-zags down” to the Willamette Greenway Trail; then head North, continuing along the Willamette Greenway Trail till you are almost to The Old Spaghetti Factory. There are two picnic tables in front of the Oregon Ballet Theater (OBT). Turn around at the 2nd table, where the 10K water station is. Head back the way you came. At the 5K water station, you will loop around the Willamette Park soccer field counter-clockwise (near the public restrooms) to head back the same way you came across the NORTH side of the Sellwood Bridge. When you are on Grand Ave heading North you will cross over Spokane St and follow the sidewalk heading West along Spokane St. At the Riverpark Business Center sign, take the little path/sidewalk to the right heading North. Follow that path and then loop around the Sellwood Riverfront Park counter-clockwise back through the Start/Finish Arch. *We will have volunteers guiding you at every turn but please be aware that we need to abide by all traffic laws.

   

Meet our 2018 Strut Warrior Family :

---The Imig's --- 

About 5 years ago we entered the hospital to have what every parent hopes for, a healthy baby. Within an hour of Beckham being born he was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and about 10 hours later an ultrasound revealed a blockage in his bladder. The end result: Stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease and a Neurogenic Bladder. Our lives changed that day, but not in the way we were expecting. When your world changes like that in the blink of an eye and you've gone from a smitten parent to what feels like a crash course of a registered nurse in a few hours I have one word for you: Lonely. This is why our heart for NW Kidney Kids is so huge. It's a place where all things kidney can be learned about, talked about and celebrated. A place for parents to lean on one another and for kidney kids to feel heard and accepted, not to mention a place where siblings get to be loved on too.

Beckham turns 5 in August and thankfully he's pretty stable in early stage 3 of CKD. He sees his nephrologist and urologist several times a year and gets lots of "pokes," which are not his favorite. With the combination of amazing doctors and the NW Kidney Kids program, we have definitely been able to soak up many good days and wonderful experiences that help us get through the hard times. A favorite memory of Beckham's was getting to go onto the court of the Blazer game with other Kidney Kids and siblings for the National Anthem. A memory that my mama heart will always hold dear is showing up to the first annual Strut Your Kidney with a stroller to push Beckham in the 1 Mile Fun Run and HE RAN THE ENTIRE MILE. NW Kidney Kids teaches kids to be brave, shows parents what their kids are capable of and gives families support when you feel like you just can't do it on your own.

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Thank you Lindsay (Beckham's Mom) for sharing a slice of your son's kidney journey.

To help families like Carissa’s please join us on September 22, 2019 to Strut YOUR Kidney.

#kidneydisease #childhoodkidneydisease #kidneytransplant #dialysis#nwkidneykids #kidneykids #strutyourkidney #awareness

Meet our 2019 Strut Warrior Family :

---The Navarro's---

Savannah and Carissa (pictured on the right with Dr. Rozansky) were born 10 years ago, little did we know what was in store for us with these twins. Carissa was born first and Savannah followed 10 minutes later. Carissa had a collapsed lung which took her to the NICU immediately after birth. The doctor said, “Her cry was too big for her little body” and now that I think about it, it makes total sense.  It wasn’t too long before they realized something was wrong with her kidneys. After some X-rays and blood work she was transferred to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital. There we received the actual and worst news; Carissa was born without kidneys. We were devastated, would our daughter make it? Was that even heard of before?  How would she survive?  We soon met Dr. Rozansky who explained to us how medically complicated she was and how Savannah, her twin, had saved her life. For some unexplained reason both of their sacs in the womb had holes/windows, which allowed Savannah to share her amniotic fluid with Carissa- who otherwise with having no kidneys, wouldn’t have made it.
 
Her journey would begin the next day with surgery at 2 days old to begin her long road on dialysis. She was on peritoneal dialysis for two years and switched to hemodialysis due to a very bad infection. She continued on hemodialysis until 2013 when she received a kidney transplant. Carissa’s transplant has been life changing for our family. From being admitted for months in a row; to driving three times a week to dialysis in Portland (110 miles away from home); she now goes to school and enjoys sports.

NW Kidney Kids Camp is what she most looks forward to every year. I remember our first year, we were a little nervous and not sure what to expect. We were walking to dinner when Carissa saw a little boy playing by the dining room, she pointed at his g-tube and said look mom he’s just like me! She felt so excited seeing someone who she could actually relate to. We knew then it was something we always wanted to be a part of. Meeting other families who have been through the same road as we have is something that has helped us manage our daughter's life-long condition.

--------------------------------

Thank you Elizabeth (Carissa's Mom) for sharing a slice of your daughter's kidney journey.

To help families like Carissa’s please join us on September 22, 2019 to Strut YOUR Kidney.

#kidneydisease #childhoodkidneydisease #kidneytransplant #dialysis #nwkidneykids #kidneykids #strutyourkidney #awareness

Meet our 2020 Strut Warrior!

~Amelia Novak~

Amelia - My girl who is sweet, kind, thoughtful, strong and resilient! Long before Amelia was ever diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure stage 5 she was known as the super sweet girl. Her teachers raved about how sweet she was always, making sure they heard a compliment and received a hug. Amelia’s sweet nature was known by all who came into contact with her and she always made sure to leave an impression. This is why when we found out that she was diagnosed with Kidney failure in May of 2019 so many people outside of our family were devastated. We didn’t know exactly how this journey would look. We had never even heard of this in kids before and to hear she would need dialysis immediately with a transplant in her future was scary, dreadful, heart wrenching and uncertain. Our lives as we knew it had flashed before our eyes. Amelia had just turned 9 on the 28th of April and was diagnosed before the 10th of May. To have imagined that taking her into urgent care for what I felt was a conformation of allergies and nothing to worry about so she could perform in her school concert/talent show that evening. Turned into an emergency trip to OHSU PICU with next day results that shook our world. While in an instant things changed, Amelia never changed her sweet spirit. She’s still the girl I’ve always known and now is incredibly confident, resilient and quite frankly a leader. One day Amelia heard the song from the Greatest Showman “This Is Me” and looked at me and said “Mom, did you know this is my favorite song?” I replied no, why? She said “Because this is me! This is who I’m meant to be! I’m meant to have a tube coming out of my belly right now!” As you can imagine I praised her and turned and cried. Thanks to Northwest Kidney Kids, Amelia has found confidence in who she is today. She doesn’t mourn her care free past but looks every bit to her ever exciting future. She loves hiking, bike riding, MMA, playing with her siblings in the yard and parks. She’s ever active and her brother and sister are always by her side living their best lives too! 

Meet our 2021 Strut Warrior!

~Devree Guido~

Devree was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease. She had further complications with liver fibrosis, and by the time she was 2 years old, she needed a liver transplant. Jessica Guido (Devree's Mom), gave a piece of her liver to her daughter in hopes of helping her, but it got killed by blood clots. Devree received an urgent transplant two days later from their “angel” Melissa. Her kidneys started working again, and she was able to come off dialysis, and the new liver was working well. At this point, her family knew Devree would eventually need a kidney transplant due to her type of kidney disease. Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease is a progressive disease in which cysts grow and take over functioning portions of the kidney. In June 2020, her kidneys could no longer support her body’s needs.

Now, Devree has a new kidney!

Jessica Guido said, “She loves the craft projects they bring by for her to do and music therapy. They have a lot of things for children to do through their incredible child life therapy programs.” Jessica Guido encourages people to register with United Network for Organ Sharing, an organization that provides support to transplant recipients and donor families, to be an organ donor. 

“We want most of all to thank the donor and family who decided to give Devree her kidney and the Stevens family for her liver,” Jessica Guido said. “Melissa lives on in Devree through that selfless act. Our kidney donor is still unknown to us, but we are forever grateful for their choice and feel sorrow for their loss.”

Our Strut Warrior for 2022 is...

John Kloft!

In 2020, John was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease. Due to his low white blood cell count, doctors originally thought John's Pancrease was the problem. With more testing they found out his pancreas was okay, but both of his kidneys were smaller than they should have been. 

Their nephrologist said that John would need a kidney transplant sooner rather than later to avoid dialysis. It felt like this came out of nowhere and in just a few weeks it felt like his family got a crash course in kidney disease, donation, and all the health care and financial logistics that transplant families face. 

They were accepted at Stanford’s donations program and began the testing process. Both of John's Parents were both found to be a match. Ultimately his mom, Patty, was the best candidate to become John's living donor. John deserves an amazing childhood and Living donation would give him the freedom from dialysis and a chance to have a mostly normal childhood.

Their family's goal was to complete a deceased or living donation before John needed dialysis. John took up to 10 pills a day. He was getting really tired and easily irritable—all because of the kidney disease.

John was transplanted on March 17th, 2021, with his mom, Patty, as his living donor. He is able to do all of his favorite things, including helping his family at the Beaverton Farmers Market every Saturday!

John was able to attend our Family Summer camp in August and meet more kids and families like him. He is a very sociable kid and loves to meet and talk to everyone! John and his family will be at Strut Your Kidney, so make sure to say hello!

Listen to John tell his story and learn more about him!
John's Story

Our Strut Warrior for 2023 is...

HELEN LYNN

Once upon a time…. When I was two, I ate something that gave me E.coli. The E.coli/HUS damaged both my kidneys. After dialysis and a long wait I received my new kidney when I was four. I don't remember much but I do remember waking up and seeing this big, brownish scar across my belly.

Long before I was born, my mom worked on a train in Alaska. That's where she met many of her friends, including Aunt Tracy. Tracy is who connected us with Lori, my kidney donor and old co-worker of my mom’s. Next month we get to celebrate our eighth kidney-anniversary! 

Having a new kidney allows me to be off dialysis and I'm able to do stuff like an overnight Youth Camp with NW Kidney Kids. I'm able to walk around and play more, but I still have less energy. I have to take medications all of the time and drink so much water. It's annoying.

At NW Kidney Kids, I actually get to talk to people. I get to relate to a lot of other kids with really cool scars. This was my first year at NW Kidney Kids Youth Camp and it was amazing! I really get to feel independent. For example, I got to be a part of my medication routine, helping the nurse sort my meds at Youth Camp.

My family has been going to NW Kidney Kids Family Camp for nine years. I love Family Camp because my family also gets to relax and talk to other parents who are going through the same thing. Parents are able to give each other advice and support. The best part about Family Camp is having my sister with me.

I’m really excited about being the Strut Warrior and getting to do the countdown at the start of the race. Strut Your Kidney is always fun because my friends come out to show their support. Including some of my old friends from Medford. They drive 5 hours just to run with me, and that means a lot! :)

<3 Froggy!!!

Meet our 2024 Strut Warrior
~ELI CRANDALL~

Hi! My name is Eli and I have 1 working kidney and Stage 3A chronic kidney disease. I am pre-transplant and pre-dialysis. My kidney story starts before I was even born. My mom’s doctors noticed some abnormal things throughout my Urinary System at my 20-week anatomy ultrasound scan and then she got to see me every week on ultrasound until I was born.

I spent 4 weeks in the hospital after I was born waiting for my kidneys to wake up and see what help they would need. My kidneys don’t retain the water I need to stay hydrated so I ended up leaving the hospital with a NG tube to help provide me with fluid and nutrition. My doctors compare my fluid goals to a grown adult having to drink 1 gallon of water every 3 hours. It’s a lot for me so I get help from my tube. I had surgery to place a more permanent G-tube when I was 6 months old and still use it everyday. One of the things you’ll notice about me is that I wear a backpack that carries my feeding pump and feeding bag so I can do all of the fun things while being fed by my tube.

I’ve been receiving care at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital since the day after I moved to Oregon at 3 months old. I get regular labs and check-ups with pediatric nephrology to track my kidney function and adjust my medications and nutritional plan. The pediatric urology doctors at Doernbecher figured out that although I was born with 2 kidneys, only one was functioning. The non-functioning one has now disappeared! 

My family and I were invited to NW Kidney Kids Family camp 5 years ago. I love family camp because I get to do a lot of fun things with kids like me. My parents love camp because they get to talk to kidney parents who have gone through things like their kid on dialysis or getting a transplant and can offer love and support when my time comes for those things to come.  

When I'm not at Kidney Family Camp, I like to mini golf, play the violin, build Legos, and play with my friends. I like to wear my kidney camp t-shirts and Strut your Kidney t-shirts all the time because they're awesome and I'm proud to be a Kidney Kid. I'm excited to be the Strut Warrior this Year and countdown to start the race! 

Noah!

Noah is 16 years old, and his kidney journey began before he was even born. During pregnancy, doctors discovered that one of his kidneys was not developing properly and would eventually fail. There was uncertainty about how well his other kidney would function, so Noah’s family prepared for a difficult road ahead.

When Noah was born, he spent his first month in the NICU. Doctors confirmed that he had a multicystic dysplastic kidney. For a time, his remaining kidney was able to keep him stable, but it required close monitoring.

At just 4 years old, Noah went into renal failure. His family met Dr. Rozansky and the ICU team, and Noah’s medical journey intensified. He needed a displsocute tube, and throughout his childhood, he was in and out of the hospital. By the time he was older, he required a urostomy bag, and he faced many complications related to his kidney disease.

In June 2025, right before Northwest Kidney Kids Youth Camp, Noah was hospitalized again and had a port placed for dialysis. Still, he was determined not to miss camp. While there, he even received hemodialysis treatments so he could experience the joy and connection of being with other kids who understood his journey.

This fall, Noah began the testing process to be approved for a kidney transplant. His family hopes he’ll be listed by January 2026, and they’re praying for a transplant in the spring.

Through every challenge—NICU stays, surgeries, tubes, dialysis, and hospital visits—Noah has shown resilience and strength. His story is still being written, but his hope for a healthier future keeps him and his family moving forward.

The Strut's out-and-back 5K course takes you from the Sellwood Riverfront Park, behind the Riverpark Business Center building, crossing over Spokane Street at the dead-end, and onto the south Spokane Street sidewalk. From there, we will head east, taking a right at Grand Street (remaining on the sidewalk), taking the pedestrian ramp onto and across the NORTH side of the Sellwood Bridge. After crossing Sellwood Bridge, follow the sidewalk to the right and as it “zig-zags down” to the Willamette Greenway Trail; then head North. After entering the Willamette Park, you will loop around the Willamette Park soccer field (near the public restrooms) to head back the same way you came across the NORTH side of the Sellwood Bridge. When you are on Grand Ave heading North, you will cross over Spokane St and follow the sidewalk heading West along Spokane St. At the Riverpark Business Center sign, take the little path/sidewalk to the right heading North. Follow that path and then loop around the Sellwood Riverfront Park counter-clockwise back through the Start/Finish Arch.

*We will have volunteers guiding you at every turn, but please be aware that we need to abide by all traffic laws.

You have two opportunities to pick up your BIB and SWAG bag:

#1 - Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Foot Traffic running store in Sellwood from 2-5:00 pm. (1260 SE Lambert St Suite 101, Portland, OR 97202)

#2 - Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the Sellwood Riverfront Park from 8-9 am.

*Late registration will be available both times.

Where is the race located?
Sellwood Riverfront Park
1221 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202

What time does my race start?
10k - 9:00 AM
5K - 9:15 AM
1 Mile - 9:30 AM

Where can I park?
There is a parking lot right next to the event's main site, but it is limited! 
Turn onto Oaks Park Way and make the first left into the parking lot.
Please carpool if possible or take public transportation. 

How will a virtual run/walk/roll work?
On Sunday, September 21st, you can run, walk, or roll 1 mile, 3.1 miles (5K), or 6.2 miles (10K) individually, wherever you are. Same day. Same mission. But this time you choose the course.

Are there any registration deadlines?
For in-person, you can register online until 7:00 PM on Friday, September 19th, and you can register in person at our bib pick up on Saturday, September 20th, and also the day of the race on Sunday, September 21st at Sellwood Riverfront Park.
For Virtual, you can register as late as 11:59 PM on race day, September 21st. You will have to submit your time no later than 12:00 PM on Monday, September 22nd, 2025.

Do I have to Run?
Not at all. We encourage participants of all abilities to get out.

When/Where is the bib pick up?
In-person bib pick up is on Saturday, September 20th, from 2-5 PM at Foot Traffic in Sellwood!
If participating virtually, no need this year! Your digital bib will be sent in your confirmation email and is also accessible in your RunSignUp Profile. 


Can I bring my dog and/or a Stroller?
Yes! We highly encourage dogs, and the path is all paved for strollers!
*Dogs must be leashed and well behaved


Is the course ADA accessible?
Definitely! Since we are a medical-based organization, accessibility is high on our radar! We encourage everyone to come out to Strut their Kidney!

Can I Volunteer?
Of Course! We would love to have you!
Please register using this link!
https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/OR/Portland/StrutYourKidney

FUNDRAISING 

Fundraising is an important aspect of our Strut Your Kidney - a dash for NW Kidney Kids. Funds raised help NW Kidney Kids continue to provide prevention services, educational programs and group activities that empower Kidney Kids to take charge of their health, embrace their future, and achieve lifelong success.

We invite you to set up your own Personal or Team Fundraiser when registering to participate in the event, or through our DONATE link at the top of this page. You can create a unique Fundraiser Name and URL address, personalize your fundraising message, and direct your friends and family to your page to join your team or sponsor you in your fundraising goal. Please share #whyyourun and #whynwkidneykidsmatters

What should my team goal be? We encourage each team captain to recruit 4 more team members and set your goal at $1000 per team. If 5 members raise $200 each then you hit your goal! The beautiful thing about this type of friend raising is that micro-donations add up to a large number that will have a huge impact on children and families in our community. 

FUNDRAISING INCENTIVES

Your commitment to fundraise and supporting NW Kidney Kids is no small endeavor, and we appreciate your dedication and hard work.

Fill your SWAG Bag! Based on your PERSONAL TOTAL raised by midnight September 20th, your bag will have:

Raise $50 = NW Kidney Kids Luggage Tag & Pen
Raise $100 = NW Kidney Kids Lanyard & Sticker
Raise $250 = NW Kidney Kids Strut Socks
Raise $500 = $25 Local Business Gift Card & NW Kidney Kids Strut Your Kidney Sweatshirt
Raise $1000 = $50 Local Business Gift Card

Top Individual Fundraiser: Two Portland Winterhawks tickets for Saturday November 1st, in section 129 - Portland Vs. Kamloops! *Major upgrades to the VMC!

Largest Team: Two blue Hydoflasks along with $50 Foot Traffic Gift Card

Top Fundraising Team:  4-Night Stay in Pacific City - House sleeps 6 people. One well-behaved dog is allowed.