Long Island teen to ring New York Stock Exchange bell
Matthew Levine, left, who has a kidney disease, uses the gavel to mark the closing session of the NYSE Tuesday, March 1st 2016. His sister, Sydney Levine, third from left, and representatives of NephCure Kidney International were visiting the New York Stock Exchange to announce their kickoff of the month long campaign, MARCHing into Awareness. Credit: NYSE / Valerie Caviness
A Melville teen will ring the closing New York Stock Exchange bell at 4 p.m. March 1 to kick off Kidney Awareness Month.
Fifteen-year-old Sydney Levine attends Half Hollow Hills High School East and, along with typical extracurricular activities, she has been raising awareness for kidney disease. Last year, she started the Stand Up and Be Counted challenge to help find a cure for FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) and Nephrotic Syndrome. FSGS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.
Levine began her crusade in early March to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for her brother Matthew, who was diagnosed with FSGS kidney disease at the age of 2. Now 12, Matthew enjoy a normal life while keeping close tabs on his health. His kidneys are likely to fail and he will need a transplant. There is no known cause or cure for the disease.
“I wanted to bring awareness and exposure to FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome,” Levine said. “I was hoping that if I could bring enough awareness and exposure to these two devastating kidney diseases I could help deliver a miracle of a cure for my brother Matthew and all those who suffer around the world from FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. I don’t want him to be in pain, go to the doctor all the time, have tests done and have to try different medications that make him sick. I want to help find a cure.”
This year, Levine teamed up with the Nephcure Kidney International Foundation to continue to raise awareness for her brother and others suffering from kidney disease. For 31 days in March, she will post different awareness activities on social media to share with the world the importance of finding a cure. Some posts will include: Hosting an event at Orangetheory Fitness in Melville, running a 5K, encouraging college students to raise awareness through Facebook posts, hosting an event at Half Hollow Hills High School, speaking to a renal nurse on nurse appreciation day, delivering gifts to patients who suffer from kidney disease, sharing patient’s stories and struggles with the disease, hosting an event at Ask Alice in Syosset, having celebrities tweet and more.
Levine will also speaking with Legis. Steven Stern in Riverhead and other local legislators at upcoming events to try and pass a bill to have March officially be Kidney Awareness Month in Suffolk County.
To help raise awareness and follow Levine’s quest, follow #Nephcure on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Matthew and Sydney Levine of Melville hope to raise awareness of kidney disease. Credit: Dana Levine
