SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio laced up their sneakers Saturday morning to walk for a cure at the 21st Annual Walk for PKD —or Polycystic Kidney Disease.
More than 500 people pre-registered for this year's walk making it the largest by date.
Chris Dillard was diagnosed with PKD in 2017 and travels from Dallas every year to San Antonio to do the walk with his family.
PKD also affects his mother and other relatives as a hereditary illness.
This year he's doing the walk for his great-uncle who passed away last year in his battle.
"He was so dear to my heart, and so really, this walk this year is for me and for him. I'm thinking about him as I as I go through this," Dillard said.
Dillard and his family created the PK Divas and Dudes team to love and support each other in the journey.
His aunt, Greta Ellis, is the ringleader behind the group and was diagnosed with PKD at 29.
Ellis says she made the group to let others know they have a community.
"Our disease is kind of not in the forefront. You can't look at us and tell that we have this, so it's a good idea to bring awareness so people know we're here, we're suffering, but we're doing it well," Ellis said.
32 teams participated in this years walk.
The money raised in this event goes towards research for a cure.
Patti O'Grady Ruffin with the San Antonio PKD fundraising committee says they've been able to raise $140,000.
"They're getting closer. They know where the gene is. They actually have a medication. Thanks to Otsuka Jynarque, it slows down the progression, but it's just a band aid. We haven't found that cure yet," O'Grady Ruffin said.
To support research and help find a cure for PKD click here.