WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2006 -- DaVita Patient Citizens (DPC), a nationwide nonprofit organization led by current dialysis patients, has renewed its commitment to dialysis patient victims of hurricanes for the 2006 hurricane season.

In the 2005, many dialysis patients suffered severe hardships from hurricanes. DPC responded by creating the DPC Patient Hurricane Relief Fund to provide grants to dialysis patients in need. Thanks to generous contributions from across the country, the fund was able to provide many grants to dialysis patients to cover basic needs such as food, medicine, and transportation to dialysis.

June 1st marked the beginning of what is predicted to be another busy hurricane season. As a result, DPC will again launch its DPC Patient Hurricane Relief Fund to help raise funds for dialysis patients affected by hurricanes this year. The Fund will accept applications from affected individuals and distribute the funds based on need.

“It is our hope that we will not need the Fund again this year,” stated DPC President Cathy Bridges. “However, if there is another natural disaster, DPC wants to ensure that we will be able to assist dialysis patients in need.”

Those interested in supporting the fund should send checks addressed to DPC Patient Hurricane Relief Fund” to:

DPC Patient Hurricane Relief Fund
DPC
1155 15th Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005

DPC is the largest organization of dialysis patients in America. It is a nationwide nonprofit dialysis patient organization, led by current dialysis patients, dedicated to improving dialysis patients’ quality of life through education and advocacy. Membership is open to all pre-dialysis patients, dialysis patients and their family members across the country. As of June 20, DPC had over 18,000 members, 85% of whom are current dialysis patients. For more information, visit DPC’s website at www.dialysispatients.org.