Bluder To Serve As Chili Cook-Off Judge

Sept. 12, 2005

University of Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder has generously agreed to donate her time as a Chili Cook-Off Judge at the Seventh Annual Chili Dog Fair, a benefit for Kidneeds. The event will take place Sunday, September 25, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Last year more than 2,000 people enjoyed the live entertainment, children’s events, dog demonstrations and a chili cook-off made up of chili cooks from the community who volunteered their chili and time to raise money for children with MPGN 2.

All funds raised by the event go to Kidneeds, a medical research foundation created in 1997 by a local family because no research was being done on the kidney disease, MPGN 2, which affects their daughter. MPGN 2 is an autoimmune, life-threatening kidney disease that dramatically affects the daily lives of affected people. Usually young people get the disease, and within 5-10 years of diagnosis, 80 percent require dialysis to live. The disease recurs in transplanted kidneys, which means that most children will be on dialysis all of their lives.

Kidneeds has become the leading funding source for MPGN 2 research in the world. This community and people like you have made this dream a reality and make continued research possible. Kidneeds is a not-for-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status with 100 percent of all funds raised going to research. Unlike many other organizations, no fund-raising or administrative costs are taken from the funds-the entire amount supports the cause.