Registration now open for 6K run and 6K/2K walk

The East Tennessee Kidney Foundation (ETKF) invites families, runners and volunteers to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and support local dialysis patients by participating in its Knox Shamrock FestTM March 15-16 in downtown Knoxville. The event includes a two-day Irish festival on Market Square and the 8th annual Lucky Kidney RunTM.
“Knox Shamrock Fest promises fun for the entire family, whether you plan to run or walk in the Lucky Kidney Run or celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with friends or family,” ETKF Executive Director Katie Martin said. “Local residents and tourists along with anyone whose life has been touched by kidney disease are welcome to participate in the celebration while supporting a great cause.”
The highlights of Knox Shamrock Fest presented by Fresenius Kidney Care include:
•    Friday, March 15, on Market Square:

  • Family-friendly festivities, 3-8 p.m. The festival will feature live entertainment, Irish dance performances, cultural demonstrations and children’s activities, including face painting, balloon art, midway games and inflatables. Admission is free; tickets for children’s activities are available online during race registration and on-site at the event.
  • Food trucks will be on-site. Attendees age 21 years or older with proper identification may purchase green beer, Guinness, Irish whiskey and wine.
  • Chloë Agnew concert, 8 p.m. Free. Agnew is a singer, songwriter and actress from Dublin, Ireland, and at age 14 became one of the original members of the all-female Irish musical ensemble, Celtic Woman.

•    Saturday, March 16, on Market Square:

  • Lucky Kidney Run, 10 a.m. The 6K walk and run starts at Market Square and progresses from downtown to the historic Fourth and Gill neighborhood and back. A 2K walk course progresses north and back on Gay Street and explores several side streets. Registration is open at http://www.etkidney.org and will be 3-7 p.m. on Friday and 7-9 a.m. on race day in Market Square. The cost is $40 for ages 13 and older and $25 for ages 9-12. Packet pickup for preregistered participants is Friday, March 15, from 3-7 p.m. at the information booth in Market Square. The Lucky Kidney Run is sponsored by WATE-TV 6 and Q100.3 FM.
  • Family-friendly festivities, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The festival will feature live entertainment, Irish dance performances, cultural demonstrations and children’s activities, including face painting, balloon art, midway games and inflatables. Admission is free; tickets for children’s activities are available online during race registration and on-site at the event.
    Food trucks will be on-site. Attendees age 21 years or older with proper identification may purchase green beer, Guinness, Irish whiskey and wine.
  • True Blue featuring Jack Hatfield concert, 4 p.m. Free. Hatfield has played the banjo for more than 40 years and is an author and instructor.
  • Chris Stephen concert, 8 p.m. Free. Hailing from the Knoxville area, Stephen’s country music is influenced by Southern rock and bluegrass.

More information about all events is available at http://www.etkidney.org.
The East Tennessee Kidney Foundation (ETKF) is a 100-percent local organization that helps more than 1,800 kidney patients annually in 17 East Tennessee counties with costs for transportation to and from dialysis treatments as well as provides nutritional supplements and blankets to make dialysis treatments more comfortable for patients. ETKF supplies patient and caregiver education; facilitates prevention, detection and awareness of kidney disease; and provides free dental care to patients to remove the final barrier to joining the kidney transplant waiting list. The organization also is once again providing free kidney disease early detection screenings at community and workplace health fairs. Funds raised and contributions to ETKF support patients in the East Tennessee region.
Individuals or community service groups interested in volunteering to assist at Knox Shamrock Fest events may visit http://www.etkidney.org to review opportunities and sign up.