Running my first ever marathon for Kidney Research UK
Sulmaan (Sully) Hanif
My Story
Thank you for taking the time to read my story…
2017 will always be remembered as a transformative year for my family and I.
It was a year of ‘firsts’ and one that I genuinely will never forget- my wife and I welcomed our first-born into the world, we excitedly moved into our new home and I also underwent a ‘nephrectomy’–the surgical removal of my left kidney and donated it to my younger sister. So yes you could say it was a busy one!
My sister Aminah was 24 years old at the time. Due to another condition she was suffering from, her kidney function was steadily declining and we knew that if she didn’t receive a new kidney, she would be ending up on dialysis at a young age. My own parents put themselves forward as potential donor options but due to other medical factors of their own, they both weren’t suitable matches. Next in line on the shortlist was myself–and thankfully I was a match.
Did you know–Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are five times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) than other groups? Every day over 20 people in the UK will develop kidney failure.
Donation was something I (and we as a family) knew very little about and naturally were apprehensive. Personally, I didn’t think twice and I know many of us who have siblings would do the same. That being said, one of the first questions running through my mind was whether this would impact my own wellbeing and health. After many months of diligent pre-screening, I was cleared to go ahead with the donation.
I attended various information sessions at the hospital and did my own reading and research into the procedure. Did you know that many individuals are born with one kidney unknowingly?
Fast forward to April 2017– the operation went smoothly and was a resounding success. I was naturally sore after the procedure and after only 2-3 nights in hospital I was discharged. I even remember running my first 5k about 8-10 weeks later. My sister made a full recovery and has since resumed a regular life of work, travel and socialising.
As a donor, I have near to zero restrictions on what I can or cannot do. It’s been over seven years since the operation and I continue to maintain an active lifestyle.
I am thrilled to be running the London Marathon (my first ever) for Kidney Research UK. With your help we can:
- Raise awareness of kidney disease and its disproportionate impact on BAME communities
- Fundraise and contribute towards research into CKD and support patients (and their family members) with support
- Inspire, educate and encourage others who may be faced with the opportunity to come forward as a donor
I hope that learning of our story will inspire you to read into the procedure and consider helping your friend, family or loved one by putting yourself forward as a donor.
As part of this fundraise, I am also really grateful and indebted to the wonderful NHS staff at St George’s Hospital in Tooting who till this day take care of my sister and I with aftercare (for me it's a straight-forward annual urine sample and blood test). A big shout out to the wonderful team at the renal transplant unit there!
I can’t wait to use my marathon training programme as a way to also shed off some pounds from the dad-bod (which I must stress, is more a by-product of eating too much and nothing to do with the procedure)!
Thank you in advance for reading my story and donating to this cause. Whatever you can contribute will compound and go a long way towards researching and supporting those who endure CKD.
God bless,
Sulmaan/Sully
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ABOUT KIDNEY RESEARCH UK
As the leading kidney research charity in the UK, nothing is going to stop us in our urgent mission to end kidney disease. We're here to be heard, to make a difference, to change the future. This is a disease that ruins and destroys lives. It must be stopped.
Over the past 60 years, our research has made an impact. But kidney failure is rising, as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes and obesity.
Today, we are more essential than ever.
In the UK there are approximately 3.25 million people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5 and a further 3.9 million people are estimated to have CKD stages 1-2, together reaching a total of 7.2 million people living with kidney disease in the UK, that's more than 10% of the entire population. Treatments can be gruelling and currently there is no cure. Only research will end this and nobody can do it but us, by offering kidney patients and their families hope for the future. We're taking it on. But we can't do it without you. Kidney disease ends here.
-
Target
£2,000
-
Raised so far
£4,232
-
Number of donors
80
My Story
Thank you for taking the time to read my story…
2017 will always be remembered as a transformative year for my family and I.
It was a year of ‘firsts’ and one that I genuinely will never forget- my wife and I welcomed our first-born into the world, we excitedly moved into our new home and I also underwent a ‘nephrectomy’–the surgical removal of my left kidney and donated it to my younger sister. So yes you could say it was a busy one!
My sister Aminah was 24 years old at the time. Due to another condition she was suffering from, her kidney function was steadily declining and we knew that if she didn’t receive a new kidney, she would be ending up on dialysis at a young age. My own parents put themselves forward as potential donor options but due to other medical factors of their own, they both weren’t suitable matches. Next in line on the shortlist was myself–and thankfully I was a match.
Did you know–Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are five times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) than other groups? Every day over 20 people in the UK will develop kidney failure.
Donation was something I (and we as a family) knew very little about and naturally were apprehensive. Personally, I didn’t think twice and I know many of us who have siblings would do the same. That being said, one of the first questions running through my mind was whether this would impact my own wellbeing and health. After many months of diligent pre-screening, I was cleared to go ahead with the donation.
I attended various information sessions at the hospital and did my own reading and research into the procedure. Did you know that many individuals are born with one kidney unknowingly?
Fast forward to April 2017– the operation went smoothly and was a resounding success. I was naturally sore after the procedure and after only 2-3 nights in hospital I was discharged. I even remember running my first 5k about 8-10 weeks later. My sister made a full recovery and has since resumed a regular life of work, travel and socialising.
As a donor, I have near to zero restrictions on what I can or cannot do. It’s been over seven years since the operation and I continue to maintain an active lifestyle.
I am thrilled to be running the London Marathon (my first ever) for Kidney Research UK. With your help we can:
- Raise awareness of kidney disease and its disproportionate impact on BAME communities
- Fundraise and contribute towards research into CKD and support patients (and their family members) with support
- Inspire, educate and encourage others who may be faced with the opportunity to come forward as a donor
I hope that learning of our story will inspire you to read into the procedure and consider helping your friend, family or loved one by putting yourself forward as a donor.
As part of this fundraise, I am also really grateful and indebted to the wonderful NHS staff at St George’s Hospital in Tooting who till this day take care of my sister and I with aftercare (for me it's a straight-forward annual urine sample and blood test). A big shout out to the wonderful team at the renal transplant unit there!
I can’t wait to use my marathon training programme as a way to also shed off some pounds from the dad-bod (which I must stress, is more a by-product of eating too much and nothing to do with the procedure)!
Thank you in advance for reading my story and donating to this cause. Whatever you can contribute will compound and go a long way towards researching and supporting those who endure CKD.
God bless,
Sulmaan/Sully
---
ABOUT KIDNEY RESEARCH UK
As the leading kidney research charity in the UK, nothing is going to stop us in our urgent mission to end kidney disease. We're here to be heard, to make a difference, to change the future. This is a disease that ruins and destroys lives. It must be stopped.
Over the past 60 years, our research has made an impact. But kidney failure is rising, as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes and obesity.
Today, we are more essential than ever.
In the UK there are approximately 3.25 million people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5 and a further 3.9 million people are estimated to have CKD stages 1-2, together reaching a total of 7.2 million people living with kidney disease in the UK, that's more than 10% of the entire population. Treatments can be gruelling and currently there is no cure. Only research will end this and nobody can do it but us, by offering kidney patients and their families hope for the future. We're taking it on. But we can't do it without you. Kidney disease ends here.
