The 2026 Mobile Kidney Walk delivered a powerful show of support, raising more than $300,000 for the Alabama Kidney Foundation and setting a new fundraising record for the annual event.
The walk brought together hundreds of participants, including families, patients, caregivers, sponsors, and community teams. Organizers reported the largest turnout in the event’s history, with more walkers, more teams, and stronger sponsor participation than ever before.
Every dollar raised supports kidney patients in the Mobile area. The Alabama Kidney Foundation uses these funds to provide direct assistance that helps people manage treatment and maintain daily life while dealing with kidney disease.
The strong turnout created an atmosphere filled with encouragement and gratitude. Participants gathered early, laced up their walking shoes, and spent the morning moving together for a cause that touches many lives across the region.
A Personal Journey Inspires One Team
Among the many teams participating this year was Team Mirian’s Mission, led by kidney transplant recipient Mirian Powell.
Powell’s journey included months of at-home dialysis and a long wait for a transplant. After spending a year and a half on the kidney transplant waiting list, she received the call that would change her life.
Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham performed the transplant, and Powell recently celebrated her first anniversary with her new kidney.
She described the moment as a turning point.
“The new kidney is a blessing,” Powell said. “I didn’t realize how sick I was or how bad I felt until I felt better.”
Powell expressed deep gratitude for the donor family who made the transplant possible.
“Thank you to the family who saw fit to give their son’s kidney so that I might live a better life,” she said.
Her team walked with pride and purpose, carrying a message of hope that resonated with many people along the route.
Walking With Love and Remembrance
Powell’s participation also carried a deeply personal meaning.
She walked in honor of her mother, who passed away from kidney disease at age 84.
The walk provided an opportunity to celebrate her own recovery while remembering someone who faced the same illness years earlier.
“I’m walking for her because she did not get the opportunity to get a new kidney,” Powell said. “I’m just so thankful that I did.”
For Powell, the growing turnout reflected something powerful.
“This is the biggest turnout I’ve seen so far,” she said. “It’s wonderful and we thank everybody for the support.”
Stories like hers often bring extra meaning to events like the Kidney Walk. Behind every team shirt and fundraising page stands a personal connection to kidney disease.
Helping Patients Navigate Daily Challenges
The funds raised through the Mobile Kidney Walk go straight into programs that support patients across Alabama.
According to Alabama Kidney Foundation Executive Director David Reeves, the organization assists more than 1,000 people every month.
Those services cover a wide range of needs that patients face during treatment. Dialysis appointments alone can require multiple visits each week, creating transportation challenges for many families.
The foundation provides financial help to make those trips possible.
“We help with transportation to get to dialysis,” Reeves explained.
Support also extends to everyday expenses that can become difficult during long medical treatments.
The foundation provides assistance for medication costs, rent, and power bills, helping families stay stable during difficult periods. These programs offer relief and allow patients to focus on their health and recovery.
Each fundraising event helps sustain those services throughout the year.
A Community Effort With Lasting Impact
Kidney disease affects a large number of people across Alabama. Health experts estimate one in every seven residents lives with some form of kidney disease.
Events like the Mobile Kidney Walk shine a light on that reality while offering a way for communities to come together and help.
The record-breaking total raised this year reflects growing awareness and generosity throughout the region. Teams formed months in advance, supporters donated online, and sponsors stepped forward to help expand the event’s reach.
The walk itself lasts only a few hours, yet the impact stretches far beyond that morning.
Transportation to dialysis. Assistance with medication. Help covering everyday bills during treatment. Programs funded by the walk continue supporting patients throughout the year.
For participants like Mirian Powell, the event carries an even deeper meaning. It celebrates survival, honors loved ones, and brings people together around a shared mission.
With a record year now in the books, the Mobile Kidney Walk moves forward with renewed momentum — and hundreds of walkers already looking forward to the next one!
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