Local Kidney Transplant Recipient Everett German Takes On the Charleston Kidney Walk

One in eight South Carolinians has chronic kidney disease and South Carolina is fifth in the nation with the number of patients on dialysis. One of those patients once on dialysis is College of Charleston basketball radio commentator and former television talk show host Everett German. Today, he’s as healthy as he ever has been, thanks to a kidney transplant on June 8, 2011.  To celebrate his second chance at life, German took the lead on bringing a walk to Charleston to help provide Awareness, Prevention and Treatment to the Lowcountry. German’s plan will take center stage with the inaugural Charleston Kidney Walk on Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. at James Island County Park. To pre-register yourself, a team or donate online, click here:  You can also register the day of the event at 1:30pm.


“I am so glad that we finally have a Kidney Walk here in the Lowcountry. For so long, if anyone in the Lowcountry wanted to help raise awareness about kidney disease thru a kidney walk, they had to go to Orangeburg, Columbia or Greenville. We now finally have our own walk and looking forward to all of the Lowcountry coming out to support this great cause” says German, who lives an active lifestyle.


There’s no set distance at the Charleston Kidney Walk, participants can walk as long as possible.  The event is family-friendly and will offer information tables on kidney disease, music and food trucks.

What: Charleston Kidney Walk 

When: Sunday, March 22, 2015

Check-in time: 1:30 PM Start time: 2:30 PM

Where: James Island County Park (Wappoo Shelter)

Details: http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR?fr_id=7470&pg=entry 




Kidney Disease Statistics from the National Kidney Foundation 

-South Carolina is per capita, fifth in the nation with the number of patients on dialysis.

-Nearly 1,000 people are on the organ donor waiting list in South Carolina, 93% of those are waiting for a kidney or kidney and pancreas transplant.

-1 in 8 South Carolinians has chronic kidney disease (CKD) 

-Three out of four of those waiting for a kidney are African-American, and South Carolina ranks second in the nation in the need for organs among African-Americans

About Everett German 

Everett German known as “E” or “E-Dog, grew up in Mount Pleasant, he is a graduate of Wando High School and The College of Charleston. First and foremost Everett is a family man, married to wife Megan and is a father of two children, a 19-year-old son Corey and a 7-year-old daughter, Amara.  “E” has become one of the most popular faces in the Lowcountry sports arena. He can be seen and heard at every College of Charleston basketball game adding his spice to the action as the color commentator for the College of Charleston Radio Network. And when he’s not court side, he works full time as an advertising account executive at Comcast Spotlight and hosts a weekly sports show, “The Dog Pound” with Bobby Hartin on Comcast C2. He is also The Former co-host of Fan Talk with Bobby Hartin on ESPN Radio. Amongst his jobs, he also finds plenty of time for the community. He has been involved with the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department, Directing and Coaching Youth AAU Basketball and is a former member of The Charleston Metro Sports Council.  

German became ill in 2009 and went to the doctor. The doctor informed him that he had only 12 percent of a functioning kidney. As a wakeup call to his health, Everett needed to change his life style, and quick, or a transplant would be necessary.  Everett followed the doctor’s orders by taking medications, as well as watching his diet and exercising in efforts to gain back his health. Everett thought he had been doing well, until he went in for a checkup.  The doctor then informed him that his kidney function had fallen to five percent; at this point he was immediately ordered to start dialysis and to begin preparations for a transplant. Unlike many, Everett is lucky; both his two sisters were matches. He received his new kidney from his sister, Charlene in 2011 and is living a life he could only dream of.