In 2019 Candice McKenzie was diagnosed with a (chronic) kidney disease called IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease.  

In 2022 Candice's kidney's failed and as part of her ongoing treatment, she started dialysis to maintain her life as she waits for a kidney transplant.  

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The 2024/25 NHS Blood and Transplant Annual Report on Ethnicity Differences in Organ Donation and Transplantation shows that as of 31 March 2025, Black patients represent twelve percent (12%) of the kidney transplant waiting list, which is 1,221 people out of 10,012.  Yet Black people make up only two percent (2%) of deceased kidney donors in the year 2024 - 2025.  

 

The same report also shows that Black patients wait on average 560 days for a kidney, compared with 463 days for a White patient, making there an urgent need for more black people to sign up to the organ donation list to help reduce the waiting time.  

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Candice is an advocate for kidney health and the prevention of kidney disease in the Black British African and Caribbean communities. She speaks and writes about kidney disease, dialysis, kidney transplant and life after transplant.  She is regularly booked as a guest on TV and radio shows to offer advice and shares her experience to empower and educate others.

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​In March 2024 on World Kidney Day, Candice launched the African Caribbean Kidney Education Enterprise® (ACKEE),
a community interest company passionate about kidney health and the prevention of kidney disease in the Black African Caribbean community.  ACKEE provides education and support throughout the renal journey, from early diagnosis to kidney failure, dialysis, transplant and life after transplant, and works jointly with pharmaceutical companies, researchers and charities
to achieve lasting, meaningful change by helping to shape healthcare so that it becomes more inclusive and culturally sensitive.

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​​On 3 September 2025, after 1249 days (almost 3.5 years) of waiting and living on dialysis, Candice received a kidney transplant. 

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