Tampa, Fla., April 29, 2010 – The votes are tallied! The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is proud to announce the winners of the 2010 AAKP Artwork Contest. The winners are:

1st Place – Nellie Ferrante – Dialysis patient
2nd Place – Melody Kirby – Caregiver and Transplant donor
3rd Place – Mary Mitchell – Dialysis patient

The winning entries can be found on the AAKP website, www.aakp.org/events/artwork-contest-preorder-form/.

The Artwork competition challenged artists to depict how kidney disease has affected them and help raise awareness of reduced kidney function. Patients and family members from across the United States submitted artwork. Medal of Excellence Award Dinner attendees narrowed the selection down to the top eight. The pieces were displayed on the AAKP website until April 15 where nearly 1,000 votes were cast.

“Many of the submissions were just amazing,” stated Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. “I am just glad AAKP has the opportunity to showcase the wonderful talents of some of the nation’s kidney patients.”

The selected pieces of artwork are being turned into all occasion greeting cards. AAKP is now taking pre-orders for the greeting cards. Call the AAKP National Office at 1-800-749-2257 to place your order. You can also place your order by visiting the AAKP website, www.aakp.org.

Winners receive a complimentary pack of their artwork greeting card along with an award certificate for their accomplishments.

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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for 40 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.