20/01/2009

Media Release

21 January 2009

BIG RED BBQ at Hyde Park on Sunday 1st February 2009

The BIG RED BBQ - the Healthy Choice

Anne Wilson, CEO of Kidney Health Australia today announced The BIG RED BBQ - the Healthy Choice, a part of Kidney Health Australia's national community awareness program to promote healthy food and lifestyle to help prevent kidney disease in Australia will hit Hyde Park in PERTH on Sunday 1st February 2009.

The iconic Aussie barbeque got a healthy makeover recently when Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched Kidney Health Australia's national strategy aimed at encouraging people to introduce healthy barbeque menus and choices of food to cut the fat content of traditional barbeques.

The BIG RED BBQ kicks off at 10am, with Live Music from midday and is being staged by the Kidney Health Australia (WA) Consumer Participation Committee to improve kidney health awareness.

Healthy and delicious BBQ delights will be on sale from 10am.

All profits will go to Kidney Health Australia to help fund medical research, valuable education programs and other programs, including our Transplant Housing FAITH project, Kidney Information Service (KHIS), our Kidney Kids Camps Programs and Kidney Capers and Holidays program.

Two Live Bands KHAOS, the Kidney Health Australia Band; including Doctors, Patients and family from WA's Kidney Community and RED DOG, Rockin' Country Blues, will be on the Hyde Park stage from midday.

Approximately 2 million Australians may be affected by early-stage kidney disease and don't know it.

Media Enquiries:
Adam Boyle - Mobile: 0422 532 360
Gail Matthews - Mobile: 0427 646 910
Julie Edmonds - Kidney Health Australia (WA) - 08 9381 9311
Ron Smith National Communications Manager Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201

www.kidney.org.au

Kidney Health Australia Snapshot figures

In Australia out of a total of 2.215 million hospital admissions in 2005 2006, 731,000 were related to kidney disease. Obesity increases the risk of kidney disease and our message to the community is to undertake a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight.

FAST FACTS ON CKD IN AUSTRALIA

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a significant and growing public health problem, responsible for substantial burden of illness and premature mortality. In Australia, it is a fact that:

•  1 in 3 adults are at increased risk of developing CKD
•  1 in 7 adults have at least one clinical sign of existing CKD
•  A person can lose up to 90% of their kidney function before experiencing any symptoms
•  Approximately 2 million Australians may be affected by early-stage kidney disease and don't know it
•  Over 40 Australians die of kidney failure each day
•  11.3% of all deaths in Australia are due to, or associated with, kidney failure
•  Every day, 6 Australians commence expensive dialysis or transplantation to stay alive
•  Most people with CKD will die from cardiovascular causes before requiring dialysis or transplantation
•  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience excessive death and disability due to CKD
•  The dialysis-dependent population has risen by an average of 8% per year over the past decade, and is being fuelled by the ageing population, and Type 2 diabetes epidemic
•  It costs approximately $83,000 per annum to keep a person alive on dialysis

THE BIG RED BBQ - THE HEALTHY CHOICE

GRILLED MUSHROOMS ON TOAST WITH ROCKET PESTO

Method:
1. Preheat the grill. Place the mushrooms cap side up on a rack over the grill and brush with a little of the oil and grill for 7-8 minutes until softened slightly. Remove from the heat and turn mushrooms over.

2. Meanwhile, chop rocket finely and place into a bowl with the almonds, garlic and cheese, mix to combine. Season to taste with pepper. Put a spoonful of the pesto into the mushroom caps and return to the grill. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

3. Arrange some hot toast on plates, top each with pesto mushrooms.

More Healthy Recipes at www.kidney.org.au (click on the Big Red BBQ)