SALISBURY -- The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland will hold its sixth annual Salisbury Kidney Walk at WinterPlace Park in Salisbury on Sunday.

More than 1,200 people in Maryland are currently on dialysis, and the funds raised through the event will directly support NKF-MD's patient services, education and research efforts.

Stephanie Elliott, a dialysis nurse of 15 years, manager of the acute dialysis unit at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center and a certified nephrology nurse, was instrumental in organizing the first walk six years ago.

"My interest is for the patients that are under my care, patients who have been under my care in the past and for those whom I will serve in the future," she said.

Elliott has also co-chaired the event every year.

Last year, NKF-MD events in the state drew thousands of participants and raised more than $275,000.

Princess Anne native Thomas Beckett began hemodialysis in 2011 and immediately formed a walk team.

"I got involved because of my kidney failure and my mother's as well," said Beckett, whose mother is on peritoneal dialysis. "It's so prevalent. So many people I know have this issue, and I never knew it. It's more common than people realize."

Organizers are expecting about 400 people to participate. There is no registration fee, although anyone who raises more than $100 will receive a Kidney Walk t-shirt. Those people don't wish to walk may also sponsor another participant.

"This cause is essential because Chronic Kidney Disease is very under-diagnosed and misunderstood, but is on the rise and projected to only become worse," Elliott said. "Caught in time, the progression of kidney disease may be slowed or even halted with the proper care. This is why it is so very important to be followed by a doctor --preferably a kidney doctor (nephrologist) in the early stages of the disease. If CKD goes undetected or untreated, the disease may progress to End Stage Renal Disease and require dialysis and/or transplantation. The research and education that are possible through the Kidney Foundation only promise to improve the lives of CKD/ESRD patients, which makes this walk a very worthwhile cause."

Registration starts at 9 a.m., with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. Warm-up exercises and announcements will be hosted by WMDT-TV news anchors Ashley James and Terrence Lee. Pets are welcome, and both a three mile and a shorter walk will be offered.

Moonbeam Entertainment will provide live music and Home Depot is sponsoring a children's crafts area. Additionally, Panera Bread will provide bagels, Food Lion will offer up assorted snacks, and water and juice will be donated by Pepsi and Wawa.

"I want people to understand kidney disease is not a death sentence," Beckett said. "It does require planning and readjusting your everyday life. I want people to be more informed that people with the disease need a lot of support, and that family can be a great help. Also, donating a kidney would help out a lot of folks -- it's not a death sentence for donors either."

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