What: A free health screening for people at risk for kidney disease – area residents with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. A health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine tests will be conducted on an anticipated 85 people throughout the day.

When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Where: Santa Paula Community Center; 530 West Main St. Santa Paula, CA 93060

Who: Anyone over age 18 showing risk for Kidney Disease (above)

Why: Twenty six million Americans have chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it. In the Tri-Counties, one in eight people are suffering from chronic kidney disease. Early detection and treatment, including lifestyle changes and medications, may SLOW or PREVENT its progression to kidney failure and lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"I owe my health to these screenings," Cynthia Mullon told us with great relief. "They're comprehensive and helped me catch my kidney disease before it was too late."

Cynthia, a diabetic for over 20 years, attended a free National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®) screening recently in Newburgh, NY. "I found out that my GFR-a measure of kidney function-had declined immensely since the last screening," she reported.

"It showed that in the course of one year, I had gone from being healthy to being in stage two kidney disease." She is now working with her doctor and following a diet plan and exercise regimen to help prevent or slow further kidney damage.

Cynthia's story is just one of thousands. NKF has provided free early detection screenings to more than 155,000 people at risk for kidney disease. And for each of them, these screenings can be life-changing events.