Peaks for PKD Blog
May 24, 2024

Hampel Family In the News | Peaks for PKD

Eric Hampel was recently featured in the Fort Erie Observer, which published an article about his upcoming attempt to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for PKD.

Eric.pngEric Hampel, originally from the Fort Erie area, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at 18. This wasn't a complete shock, since his mother, Barb Hampel, and aunt, Carolyn Nagel, also have the disease, but it was still hard for him to accept.

For a while, during his university years, he tried to ignore his condition. However, seeing how the disease was affecting his family he knew he had to face it and take action.

One of Eric’s long-time dreams has been to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Motivated by other climbers' stories, he decided to tackle the mountain to help increase awareness and support for PKD. He's planning his summit attempt this October, and will share updates on his preparation and climb at endpkd.ca/peaksblog.

Read the entire article here, page 15

Eric's mother, Barb, and his Aunt Carolyn Nagel were also recently in the Fort Erie Observer, when they shared their heartwarming kidney transplant stories. (Both women have received kidney transplants in the past year.)

Hampel_family.pngWhile one sister celebrates a first anniversary, the other sister celebrates the life-saving gesture of a lifelong friend.

Two weeks ago, I sat around the kitchen on a Friday evening, talking kidney transplants with Barb Hampel, Carolyn Nagel and Sue Ward.

It was more of an emotionally charged discussion than an interview as I was able to relate and contribute; my son, Aaron, and I just celebrated our fifth anniversary. On February 13, 2019, I donated a kidney to him. Barb, Carolyn and Sue liked hearing my success story. We are both doing well.

As they verbally compared incisions and paces of recovery, the three were in high spirits, proud. “These are our battle scars.” The battle has been against PKD.

Read the entire article here

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2026 update: PKD patient Eric Hampel is taking on the U.K. National Three Peaks Challenge in June 2026, climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours to raise funds and awareness for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Inspired by his family’s experience with PKD and his own diagnosis, Eric is using his training and the challenge itself to support PKD research and patient programs in Canada and the U.K. Through regular training updates, he’s sharing the reality of preparing for a demanding endurance challenge while fundraising toward a future without PKD. This is Eric’s second climbing challenge to benefit people affected by PKD; in October 2024 he successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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