| Kidney Walk to honor volunteer Greg Francis |
By: By MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
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Greg Francis
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The volunteer spirit of retired Murfreesboro Police Officer Greg Francis touched many people who also struggled with end-stage renal disease, his widow said.
Greg is the posthumous 2008 National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee Kidney Walk honoree. The Kidney Walk takes place on Saturday, May 10 at Barfield Crescent Park.
“Over 4,000 people in Tennessee are living with kidney transplants,” Kidney Walk Co-chair Sandi Stout said. “The Kidney Walk will draw attention to the importance of early detection for those at risk while raising funds for kidney patients and their families.”
Greg was one of more than 26 million Americans who will have kidney disease over their lifetime. More than 6,100 Tennesseans experience kidney disease.
“We are thrilled and honored,” said Leigh Francis, Greg’s widow. “It’s a great way to continue his legacy to never give up. You always keep fighting and have a smile on your face while you do it.
“Greg was a remarkable human being and it’s a great way to honor him,” she added.
Greg passed away on Oct. 30, 2007 after a 26-year battle with renal disease. He is also survived by their two children Ellen, 8, and Stephen, 4.
Greg had no other health problems, just a kidney obstruction he had during childhood “caught up with him,” Leigh said.
Even though he felt that dialysis was the right treatment for him, he encouraged everyone he knew to become an organ donor.
Greg received a kidney transplant in the mid-1980s, Leigh said. But after a year and a half to two years his body rejected the kidney. At that point he and his doctor decided dialysis was the right treatment for his condition.
Greg spent 26 years on dialysis. During that time, he would counsel and aid others going though the process. Leigh said she still gets letters of thanks from those Greg helped.
“He would tell people to take care of themselves because he didn’t want to have someone on a kidney machine next to him,” Leigh said.
Greg retired from the Murfreesboro Police Department after 12 years on the force and was active in community causes for years. In addition to helping other dialysis patients, he was chairman of the Crime Stoppers Board, served on the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center Board, the Rutherford County Drug Court Board and the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee Board. He was instrumental in getting the Walk started in Murfreesboro.
“He was a helper to other people,” Leigh said. “Now, it’s our turn to help the Kidney Foundation.”
Walkers of all ages are invited to help the Kidney Foundation by walking individually or by forming a team. For more information, or to register call the NKF of Middle Tennessee at (615) 383-3887 or visit www.nkfmdtn.org. Registration is available online at www.firstgiving.com/nkf-midtn.
The National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee is dedicated to the prevention of kidney and urinary tract disease, improving the health and wellbeing of patients and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
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