MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – A morning of celebration, remembrance, and fundraising for a cause many hold dear to their hearts: stopping kidney disease.

“I had a kidney transplant done in 2021,” said Alabama Kidney Foundation Patient Chair Denise Riley Mitchell. “Ever since then, it’s been my mission to help others get the funds and the finances they need to fight kidney disease.”

The event proving even more important in Alabama, which organizers say has the worst statistics for kidney disease in the country.

“Alabama ranks #1 per capita for kidney failure,” explained Alabama Kidney Foundation Regional Director Shannon Morrell. “We have a big need in our area, our local River Region area. When they lose their jobs, they have to continue dialysis. We just go in and help them financially when they need it the most.”

Pike Road native and Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins was in attendance as well, proud of the community he grew up in making an impact.

“Just to see this community come out and you know, support each other, everybody come out and celebrate and come together for a cause that’s bigger than everyone else, it’s been awesome to see,” Judkins expressed.

He’s hoping to make an impact of his own this fall, as every touchdown he scores $1,000 will be donated to the Alabama Kidney Foundation by Jerry Kocan, who owns the trucking company Four Star Freightliner and has also had kidney disease impact his life.

“If you’ve seen this young man [Judkins], he’ll have a couple dozen,” said Kocan.

When asked if it will incentivize him to score a couple more touchdowns this year, Judkins laughed, saying “Yeah, most definitely.”

That money will be added to an already record breaking kidney walk fundraiser. The goal this year was $185,000, and the foundation has already raised over $200,000.

If you couldn’t make it to the event, the Alabama Kidney Foundation collects donations year-round. To donate, click here.

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It’s been an offseason full of drama surrounding the Pell City High School football program. That’s not too unusual when Rush Propst is your head coach, but the notorious football coach added another chapter to the story this week by turning in his resignation after just one season.

Propst led the Panthers to a 1-9 season and complained of jealousy and backstabbing as to why things weren’t progressing at the pace the supporters may have expected. On Saturday Pell City named former Alabama football defensive lineman Nick Gentry as its next head coach.

Gentry won two national championships at Alabama and got right into coaching after his college playing days were through. This will be his first head coaching job, but he’s served as a defensive coach at Jacksonville State and UAB before delving into the high school ranks. The Pell City Panthers open their season on Friday, Aug. 23 against Pelham high school.

Today’s Crimson Tide Schedule:

• Baseball at No. 16 Mississippi State, 12 p.m., SEC Network +

Crimson Tide Results:

Countdown to Crimson Tide’s 2024 Football Season Opener:

118 days

On This Day in Crimson Tide History:

May 5, 1954: Cecil Ingram won the Hugo Friedman Prize, given annually to the best athlete at Alabama. The Tuscaloosa native, known to his friends on campus as “Hootie.” starred in both football and baseball. Bill Oliver, a teammate of Ingram’s, received two awards, the “Jimmie Moore Memorial Award” and the “Dr. Joseph Hirsch Memorial Trophy.”  — Bryant Museum

May 5, 1995: Ross Pierschbacher was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Crimson Tide Quote of the Day:

“Alabama is a typical Wade [Wallace] machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team I’ve ever seen. … When they came on the field, you could hear the fans yell, ‘Hold your horses, here come the elephants.” — Referee Everette Struper, who officiated the 1930 Alabama-Ole Miss game and wrote a weekly article for the Atlanta Journal. He coined the nickname, Red Elephants.

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