NKDO Member Reflection: Rim to River to Rim- A Journey of Strength and Purpose

On October 12, 2025, fifteen living kidney donors from across the country stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon at 6:30 a.m. The air was crisp, the canyon glowing in soft shades of gold as the sun began to rise. Together, this group of kidney donors set out on a mission, a one-day Rim to River to Rim trek to raise awareness for living kidney donation.

As the group descended the South Kaibab Trail, the morning light shifted across the canyon walls. Each donor was ready and excited to take this step, having waited months for this day. They each carried a story of someone they had helped or someone still waiting to be helped. The descent was steep and demanding. By mid-morning, they had reached Havasupai Gardens via the Tonto Trail. Three of the donors made the courageous decision to pause at Havasupai Gardens, while the rest of the group descended toward the Colorado River.

When they finally reached the Colorado River, they found it rushing and brown from the recent rains, which teammate Tori perfectly described as “chocolate milk.” After refueling and taking some time to rest and to absorb the magnitude of where they stood, the team began the long, grueling climb up Bright Angel Trail. Their muscles cramped, and fatigue set in.

The climb back up demanded not just strength but determination and mental grit. Reunited with the three donors who had waited at Havasupai Gardens, all fifteen trekkers ascended step by step through the demanding miles toward the rim. Each at their own pace, every word of encouragement helped carry someone else a little farther.

As the ascent continued and night fell over the canyon, their headlamps lit the narrow, winding trail. Looking up, they could see tiny dots of light, other trekkers twinkling along the canyon walls, stretching endlessly upward. At one point, they turned off their lights and looked up at the sky. The stars were brilliant and endless, one of those rare and humbling moments when words fall short.

The following day, during the group’s reflection, donor Aimee shared a quiet thought that had carried her through one of the hardest moments on the trail:
“When I was struggling, I told myself all I needed was a few minutes, some rest, water, or electrolytes, and I’d be okay. But our recipients on dialysis don’t get that option. Thinking about that kept me going.”

The first trekkers reached the rim around 7:30 p.m., with the rest finishing by 8:30 p.m., 13 to 14 hours after setting out. All donors completed the trek. Each arrival was met with cheers and hugs. It wasn’t just the completion of a hike; it was the culmination of purpose, perseverance, and deep appreciation for their bodies and their mission.

For the team, post-trek blues are real. The ache of missing their new friends who were strangers before the trek and the shared purpose lingers long after the boots come off. But what remains is stronger, a unique and unbreakable bond between donors.

-Cristina Fontana, BSN, RN

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A note from NKDO Executive Director, Emily Polet-Monterosso: 

As a leader of NKDO and a board member for Kidney Donor Athletes, I believe that the missions of the two organizations complement one another very well. One of the things I think KDA does best is that they highlight the incredible things that kidney donors are still physically capable of after kidney donation. This puts living donation in a unique spotlight and showcases to the general public that living donation is something they can aspire to. See here for a local media piece on our Grand Canyon trek that aired to tens of thousands of unique viewers. Each member of each trek is encouraged to seek out media coverage in his or her respective media market, and in this way, broader awareness is generated among the public of the need for more living donors. 

My participation in this hike was a very special experience, and one I’ll not soon forget. There is something hard to quantify about advocating for this important cause with like-minded individuals in such a unique way- by sharing suffering together, and helping one another through. It is because of experiences like this that I encourage all living donors, and those who are connected to this cause, to plug in, attend events, and get to know others in this community- the value that I and others have found by doing so is immeasurable.