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The struggle to help dialysis patients with their financial obligations led Kometsky and others to found the Piedmont Dialysis Patient Fund.
“Contributions and charity were sporadic,” he explained, “and we needed something more acute. In the 1980s, Big K radio sponsored a yearly radiothon for dialysis, and we took in over $100,000 in 10 years.”
But eventually Big K left the local scene, and that led to other measures.
“We had a Southern rock band donate its services, we had people donate pigs and barbecue services, and finally, four years ago, we incorporated and got a tax ID number.
“We’ve had a number of successful events and raffles, and this year one of our patients is an Elvis fan, and he kept saying that we should bring in this impersonator from Virginia Beach. They have a combined show that they put on, and well have refreshments and memorabilia for sale, and hopefully, we’ll make a few dollars.
"The important thing to remember about this fund is that, after expenses, 100 percent of the money we raise goes to patients. There are no administrative expenses,” Kometsky added.
“This fund helps a lot of people who may not qualify for grant programs. A lot of people live check to check, and they might need medication at the wrong time of the month. It’s a very costly disease.
“And if they can’t afford to take their blood pressure medicine or their cholesterol medicine, they’re the diseases that are going to get them.
“The fund is not to pay physicians, not to pay the dialysis unit,” Kometsky continued. “It’s to pay the extras, and those extras are very important.”
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