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Holbrook Man Walks, Raises Money to End Life-threatening, Genetic Kidney Disease
Steve Zalta and family take part in the Long Island Walk for PKD Sept. 19 at Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Park Preserve
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. – Steve Zalta, 57, believed he was a relatively healthy man until a hard fall landed him in the emergency room three years ago. While his doctors were performing X-rays to look for any broken bones, they found pre-existing cysts on both of the Holbrook man’s kidneys. Zalta is the first in his family to be diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), but he may not be the last – he worries his two grown daughters may have inherited the disease.
PKD is one of the world’s most common, life-threatening genetic diseases, often resulting in kidney failure and death. Zalta is one of 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million people worldwide – including more than 38,500 in New York state alone – affected by PKD.
“No one knows about PKD aside from the medical community,” Zalta says. “I don’t think they always check for PKD when there are underlying symptoms, and I think they should do that more often. I just want to get the word out there and let people know what PKD is all about.”
Zalta and his family are encouraging other Long Island residents to join them by registering and raising money for the Walk for PKD, the PKD Foundation’s signature fundraising event taking place in over 60 cities across the country this fall. The Long Island Walk for PKD is planned for Sunday, Sept. 19 at Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Park Preserve. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10 a.m.
Registration and fundraising for the Long Island Walk for PKD are now open. Proceeds from the Walk for PKD will help fund vital PKD research as well as education, advocacy, support and awareness. Members of the community are encouraged to learn more and sign up to walk for PKD at www.pkdcure.org/longislandwalk or by calling 1-800-PKD-CURE.
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