By Analyn Scott, Co-Founder & CEO of 1in9 Charities Inc.
My husband Raymond and I have been sounding an alarm for 11 years, and if ever there’s been a time to turn up the volume it’s NOW! When we founded 1in9 in 2015 there were 26 million Americans – 1in9 adults – that had kidney disease, yet 90% didn’t now it. There are now over 37 million Americans with kidney disease – still 90% don’t know. And without a change, it’s predicted that 80 million Americans will have kidney disease by 2030.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are by far the greatest causes of kidney disease and kidney failure, responsible for nearly 2/3 of cases. The CDC estimates that 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure may have kidney disease.
Kidney disease is a global epidemic and silent killer. Globally, there are 850 million people with kidney disease – that’s double the number of people with diabetes and 20x the prevalence of cancer or HIV/AIDS. 90% don’t know they have it!
It was high blood pressure that caused Raymond’s kidneys to fail and “crash” into dialysis 28 years ago at the age of 29. I was 23 at the time and we had just met on a blind date 3 months earlier. Raymond was part of that 90% that didn’t know that he had kidney disease when his kidneys failed. He also wasn’t aware that high blood pressure was the second leading cause, and that African Americans are nearly 4 times more likely to have kidney failure than white Americans.
Out of the past 28 years Raymond has been on dialysis 22 of those years. January 25th we celebrated Raymond’s 1 yr kidney transplant anniversary (his 2nd transplant) – and 5 days later we celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. There are many things Raymond and I both wish we knew three decades ago, but we learned even more through our lived experiences to share with you and others to “be in the know” and be empowered to avoid a journey like ours.
March is Kidney Disease Awareness Month and we invite you to join us for 1in9’s 2nd Annual SMASH THE THREAT Pickleball Tournament – A Rally Against The Triple Threat of Kidney Disease, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Saturday March 21, 2026 from 7:00 AM – Noon at Electric Pickle 8688 S. Emerald Dr. Tempe, AZ 85284 9 mixed doubles teams representing the SMASH THE THREAT Squad will compete in the tournament between 7:00 – 10:00 AM. Open play and FREE Pickleball instructions for beginners will take place between 10:00 AM – Noon.
Rally your family and friends and join us for a morning filled with Health Empowerment,
Resources and Family Friendly Fun. Proceeds support awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease in the United States and abroad. www.1in9kidneychallenge.com/smashthethreat
We’re taking our programs and events – including SMASH THE THREAT – on the road and in
the air to combat the global epidemic and triple threat of kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 1in9 is grateful for Green Living Magazine, Electric Pickle, and all of our Rally Partners.
We want to extend a special thank you and shout out to Original Chop Shop – who believes that food should not only taste good, but should make you feel good too! – for providing a month long fundraiser for 1in9 across all 9 of their Phx (Valley) locations. (see attached coupon for details) If you’re interested in becoming a local, regional, or national 1in9 Rally Partner to rep and rally your community into action & amplify the impact please email analyn.scott@gmail.com
