Seneca Valley senior Alexa Lombardo holds her cousin, Carter Bish, 2, who has kidney disease and will undergo a kidney transplant this year. Alexa has organized Carter's Kidney Krew Walk for her senior project. The walk will be held at 9 a.m. on March 19 at North Boundary Park in Cranberry Township. All proceeds raised at Walk with Carter's Krew will benefit the National Kidney Foundation.

A required school project will raise funds and awareness for kidney ailments.

Alexa Lombardo, a senior at Seneca Valley Senior High School and Cranberry Township resident, couldn’t help but think of her little cousin, Carter Bish, 2, when planning her senior project.

The tot was born without kidney function and could undergo a kidney transplant this year.

Having already raised $3,000 for the National Kidney Foundation on a fundraising page, Alexa decided to organize Carter’s Kidney Krew Walk, which will be held at 9 a.m. March 19 at North Boundary Park in Cranberry Township.

Those who participate will receive a Carter’s Kidney Krew T-shirt and are asked to donate to the National Kidney Foundation.

“I wanted to spread awareness for the kidney disease that my cousin has, and I wanted to raise money for research and support,” Alexa said.

She is amazed that although he endures three hours of dialysis per day near his home in Atlanta, his bubbly personality has not been affected.

“He’s so giggly and smiles all the time,” Alexa said. “He’s never crying.”

Erin L. Tuladzieck, executive director at the National Kidney Foundation’s Pittsburgh office, said her team is excited to celebrate National Kidney Month, which is each March, with the Lombardo family at the Carter’s Kidney Krew Walk.

“Last fall, when Alexa and her father, Rob, called us to share Carter’s kidney journey and Alexa’s idea to plan her senior project around raising awareness and funds for the NKF — we were literally speechless,” Tuladzieck said. “From that initial conversation, we knew Alexa was special and wise beyond her years.”

She said more than 100,000 Americans are on the transplant wait list, with 90,000 waiting for a kidney specifically.

“Unfortunately, the general public is often unaware that children can suffer from kidney disease and that it can affect any family without warning,” Tuladzieck said.

She said living donor transplantation is the best option for those waiting for a donor organ, yet only one-third of transplants are from living donors.

Rob Lombardo, whose sister, Pam, is Carter’s mother, said he and Pam have passed the initial screening as a potential match for Carter.

The siblings are waiting to find out if one of them will be able to donate a kidney to Carter.

“My family is amazed that there are so many people who don’t understand how many people are on the waiting list for a kidney, and (kidney disease) is not a rare disease anymore,” Lombardo said. “Until it hit us, it’s something that almost everyone overlooks.”

He said the minimum weight for a kidney transplant is 35 pounds, which Carter finally reached this year.

“Alexa said, ‘You know what? I’m going to do my senior project partnering with the National Kidney Foundation,’” Lombardo said. “We were not surprised. She always worries about everyone beside herself.”

Those interested in participating in the walk can simply arrive at North Boundary Park before 9 a.m. on March 19.