TAMPA, Fla. – NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist Alonzo Mourning attended the 84th Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclave at the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday to raise awareness about kidney disease and prostate cancer.
Mourning’s 15-season career with the Miami Heat was interrupted by a startling diagnosis during a routine checkup.
“I was diagnosed with AMKD, FSGS Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in 2000, a type of kidney disease,” he explained. “I’m a transplant survivor. I received a kidney transplant in 2003.” Mourning shared that this diagnosis was a significant shock.
“It was deflating. It truly was. I had minimal symptoms that I was willing to ignore, which a lot of people do,” he shared. More recently, Mourning was diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer and chose to undergo surgery. He is now cancer-free.
Mourning said his health challenges have motivated him to educate others about kidney disease. “I think that’s the blessing that’s come out of this—that I’ve been able to reach millions of people because I’ve had to go through this,” he said.
To further this mission, Mourning has launched a website for his “Power Forward Campaign“ in partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
As a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Mourning participated in a panel discussion at the convention alongside TN State Rep Harold Love and Vertex VP of Clinical Development, Dr. Ogo Egbuna.
“These are all my brothers, and we’re global. Having a global footprint and access, being able to get the word out to as many brothers as I can to help spread this information worldwide,” Mourning said. FOX 13 News Initially reported it.
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