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Candice McKenzie - Kidney Disease

In 2019 Candice McKenzie was diagnosed with a 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.  

 

NHS figures show that as of 31 March 2024, only 1% of deceased kidney donors are Black - this percentage has decreased as it was 2% in 2023.  Black people currently make up 13% of deceased donor transplants, and as on 31 March 2024, 12% of people on the kidney transplant waiting list are Black.  NHS figures also show that Black patients wait on average 735 days for a kidney, making there an urgent need for more black people to donate to reduce the waiting time.  

 

Candice is an advocate for kidney donation in the Black British African and Caribbean communities.  She writes about kidney disease, donation and transplant, and is regularly booked as a guest on TV and radio shows, and to speak on panels at conferences a to offer advice and share 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 aimed at educating and empowering Black African Caribbean people to look after their kidneys in life and donate their kidneys in death. 

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14 March 2024

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the African Caribbean Kidney Education Enterprise (ACKEE), a community interest company aimed at educating and empowering Black African Caribbean people to look after their kidneys in life and donate their kidneys in death.

ACKEE Logo White.png

31 October 2023

“Black patients wait 6 months longer for a transplant than white patients”

NHS Blood and Transplant recently published their Annual Report on Ethnicity Differences in Organ Donation and Transplantation 2022/2023.

NHS Organ Donation Graphic: Black People wait 6 months longer for a transplant

12 October 2023

Did you know that people with kidney disease may not know that anything is wrong? They cannot feel the damage before any kidney function is lost because it happens slowly and in stages.

That was me.

Black History Month Graphic

25 September 2023

5865 people are still waiting for a kidney transplant including myself, and I am currently on dialysis to maintain my life.

Kidney Care UK Kidney Transplant Waiting Numbers

9 March 2023

In 2019 Podcast Producer and part-time DJ & radio presenter Candice McKenzie was diagnosed IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease.

ACLT Charity Logo

29 April 2022

I wrote [the song] "His Promise" as a reminder to myself that no matter how hard it [kidney failure] gets, His Promise is greater than the problem

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