DENVER, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading independent medical group and a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, today announced the total in donations raised during Tour DaVita, an annual event to increase awareness of kidney disease and vital health screenings while benefiting the nonprofit organization Bridge of Life.

"The funds will help provide kidney disease screenings to more than 9,000 people in the United States and in underserved countries while educating individuals about risks and prevention to reduce the need for dialysis treatment," said Greta Walker, senior director of donor relations and communications for Bridge of Life. "Tour DaVita has significantly increased our ability to expand programs and improve lives."

This year, 564 riders participated in the event, including six dialysis patients who were able to dialyze in local clinics each day.

Individual fundraising combined with donations from DaVita and other corporate sponsorships contributed more than $1.2 million for Bridge of Life, a nonprofit organization founded by DaVita.

Sponsors of the 2016 Tour DaVita include Amgen, ASD Healthcare, Baxter International Inc., ADI Construction, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Meridian, NxStage Medical, Inc., Pentec Health, Tata Consultancy Services and Wells Fargo.

Bridge of Life improves access to dialysis treatment as well as primary care services in underserved communities around the world. Bridge of Life also works to prevent kidney disease through early-detection screenings and education for adults and children.

Bridge of Life recently sent a team to Nepal to provide kidney disease screenings for 2,181 Nepalese. Through indicators such as blood pressure, health surveys, and protein and glucose levels, 518 individuals – nearly a quarter of participants – were found to be at risk for kidney disease. Many others were found to suffer from hypertension, diabetes and/or kidney stones. The team included four volunteers from DaVita Kidney Care India and two local nephrologists, Dr. John Ball and Dr. Sied Nassri, who connected high-risk patients with primary care treatment and follow-up care.

A Nepalese woman receiving health services from Bridge of Life said, "Thank you for coming all the way from the United States to check our kidneys. The availability of resources in the countryside is limited, but your visit to our village has been timely and beneficial."

In the 10 years since its beginning, Tour DaVita has helped raise more than $8.6 million for Bridge of Life and is dedicated to raising awareness of kidney disease, a silent epidemic that often has no symptoms.

For more information about the 10^th annual Tour DaVita, please visit TourDaVita.org or Facebook.com/TourDaVita. For more information about Bridge of Life, please visit BridgeofLifeInternational.org or http://www.facebook.com/bridgeoflifeinternational. 

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is the parent company of DaVita Kidney Care and HealthCare Partners. DaVita Kidney Care is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of June 30, 2016, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,293 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 185,000 patients. The company also operated 127 outpatient dialysis centers located in 11 countries outside the United States. HealthCare Partners, a DaVita Medical Group, manages and operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Colorado and Washington in its pursuit to deliver excellent-quality health care in a dignified and compassionate manner. As of June 30, 2016, HealthCare Partners provided integrated care management for approximately 760,000 patients. For more information, please visit DaVita.com/About.

About Bridge of Life

Bridge of Life (BOL) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. BOL improves access to primary care and dialysis treatment in underserved communities around the world while also focusing on prevention of kidney disease through early-detection testing and education. BOL serves thousands of men, women and children through four programs: kidney care, primary care, education and prevention, and kids' camps. In 2016, BOL will complete more than 30 international medical missions and over 50 domestic missions and CKD screening events, impacting nearly 17,000 lives in the United States and abroad. For more information, please visit BridgeofLifeInternational.org.

DaVita and DaVita Kidney Care are registered trademarks of DaVita Inc.

Media:
Lindsey Robinson
Lindsey.Robinson@DaVita.com
(720) 925-3079

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SOURCE DaVita Inc.