National Recognition for Bradford Kidney Charity
A mother and daughter from Bradford who turned their family experience of kidney failure into a charity supporting hundreds of local people have been recognised with a prestigious national award. Michaela Smith and her daughter Sofia Tsanou founded the Bradford Kidney Patients Association after discovering there was no longer an active support group for kidney patients in the district. Just two years later, the vital organisation has been named KPA of the Year 2026 by the National Kidney Federation.
Growing Support Network
The charity now supports more than 130 members, including patients, carers and families. The group provides crucial information, peer support, fundraising initiatives and trips out for people receiving treatment at local hospitals. These include St Luke's Hospital Renal Dialysis Unit, Bradford Royal Infirmary and Skipton Satellite Unit.
For Sofia, 30, the charity's success has come during one of the most difficult periods of her life. After complications from Type 1 diabetes, a condition causing high blood sugar, she went into end-stage kidney failure in 2023 and spent four months in hospital battling a collapsed lung, sepsis and pneumonia. She now undergoes dialysis, a treatment that cleans the blood, three times a week while waiting for a kidney and pancreas transplant.
Personal Motivation
Sofia said: "My life is on hold while I wait for a transplant. Dialysis becomes your routine and can be incredibly challenging, but starting the charity has given us a purpose. If we can make someone else's journey a little easier, then everything we've done has been worthwhile."
The idea for Bradford Kidney Patients Association came after Michaela and Sofia attended a National Kidney Federation meeting and realised Bradford was one of the few areas without an active support group after its previous group folded. Michaela commented: "We knew there was a real gap. People living with kidney disease need more than medical treatment. They need someone to talk to, someone who understands and someone who can point them in the right direction. We wanted to rebuild that support network for Bradford."
Community Activities and Fundraising
Since launching, the charity has become a thriving community, organising awareness events, publishing newsletters and helping patients access information and support throughout their treatment. Fundraising throughout the year has enabled the charity to provide coach trips, which are free to patients and £5 for guests, to seaside resorts including Scarborough, Blackpool and Southport. The group has also purchased rechargeable personal fans for patients receiving dialysis during warmer months and distributed Christmas gift bags to all 380 renal patients across Bradford and Skipton. When funds allow, the charity also provides small gestures of appreciation for NHS staff who care for renal patients.
Sofia, who describes her partner Tom as 'my rock' for his support, continued: "Our goal is to provide those little comforts that can make a difficult day feel brighter. Many patients spend four hours on dialysis, three times every week. The staff and patients become like family, so anything that improves that experience is incredibly valuable."
Lived Experience Makes a Difference
Michaela believes their lived experience has helped make the charity unique. She added: "Sofia understands what it's like to be a patient because she's living it every day, while I understand what it's like to watch someone you love go through it. Together we're able to support people from both perspectives. We don't replace medical advice, but we offer empathy, understanding and help people find the right support."
The charity's work continues to gather momentum, with Calverley Golf Club Senior Section choosing the association as its Charity of the Year for 2026, helping raise further funds for local kidney patients. Michaela continued: "We started this because we wanted to turn something so difficult into something positive. Winning this award shows what can be achieved when people come together to support one another. We hope it encourages more people to join us, volunteer or simply reach out if they need help."
Medical Community Praise
Bradford Teaching Hospitals’ Clinical Lead for Renal Medicine, Dr Mansoor Ali, said: “I am ever so grateful to Michaela and Sofia for creating Bradford KPA. The charity has created a welcoming forum where patients can meet, share experiences, support one another and access valuable peer advice. Bradford KPA works closely with our renal team and with other renal patient organisations nationally to make a difference to patients with kidney diseases in Bradford. I wholeheartedly support the charity and wish them every bit of luck and success.”
