Technically, Michigan State University Basketball star Denzel Valentine and I didn't even shake hands; I was sitting at a table near the front of the "National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's Champion of Hope Tribute Dinner" at the Kellogg Center and he made a surprise appearance, along with his dad, Sexton High Basketball Coach Carlton Valentine (pictured far left, WILX TV 10's David Andrews, Denzel Valentine and former MSU AD Merritt Norvell Jr).

My Honey and I were invited to the dinner by our dear friend Rick Murdock, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, who was given the 2016 Champion of Hope M. David Campbell Leadership Award.

Something I learned last night at the dinner was that over 900 thousand adults in Michigan have chronic kidney disease and most don't even know it. And dialysis costs about $80,000 a year.

The majority of cases of kidney disease are from high blood pressure and diabetes.

NKFM mission is to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those affected by providing awareness and programs to enhance the health of our state.

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