Timonium Woman to Rappel for Kidney Health

Which is scarier? Lowering yourself down a 33-story building with harness and rope? Or the dangers associated with kidney disease?

Timonium resident Barbara Case will cast her fears aside this weekend by performing the former to fund research and care for the latter.

Case is participating in the third annual Rappel for Kidney Health fundraiser—a task she put on her “to do list” a year ago after watching a few brave souls take the leap off of the First Mariner Bank building in Baltimore. 

“I knew this was something I could tackle,” Case said. “I have to admit that the thought of rappelling [33] stories terrifies me but it’s the challenge and the good cause that grabbed me.”

In all fairness, participants will only be rappelling 28 stories—but who's counting?

Case, a Pediatric Nephrology Nurse for Johns Hopkins Hospital for almost 30 years, said she has seen first hand the devastation caused by maladies associated with the kidney.  

“Kidney disease may be acute or chronic. It may lead to End Stage Renal Disease requiring dialysis or transplant,” Case said. “Having a child with kidney disease may impact growth, development, school and family life. The NKF-MD can help families in emergency situations by giving them a grant to help them through undue hardships.”

Each participant is given a personal fund-raising Web page and is required to collect $1,200 in donations.  Proceeds will benefit the foundations patient services, education, and research efforts, according to the the event’s Web page. Case has so far raised $1,625.

Click here to make a donation.

“Every day I observe our patients dealing with so many challenges at their young age,” Case said. I thought, I too can overcome a personal challenge in their honor. Honestly, just knowing that I am raising funds to help the children that I work with every day is so rewarding.”

The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is located at 1301 York Road, Suite 404, Lutherville, MD 21093-6007.

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about the Cockeysville doctor who will also take the leap this Saturday.

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UPDATE—In an email exchange with Barbara, she wrote, "Getting a little nervous about "going over the edge" but it should be a thrill."