Advocates rally across US for Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Fundraisers, walks, conferences among events planned for September
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Advocacy groups across the U.S. are hosting events throughout September to mark Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
The month has been recognized since the 1980s as a time to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells.
This year, advocacy groups including the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) are planning a range of initiatives to improve understanding about SCD and raise funds to support families and fuel research.
“We encourage everyone to be a part of this annual effort to increase awareness about sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait during the month of September,” the SCDAA says on its awareness month webpage. “Individuals and organizations can join our efforts to bring attention to sickle cell disease by engaging elected officials for proclamations, hosting awareness events, distributing educational information to dispel the myths about sickle cell disease, and lighting public spaces, buildings and landmarks red.”
Golf, bike, walk
The SCDAA is hosting its second annual SCDAA Golf Classic on Sept. 11 in Douglasville, Georgia. The event features an 18-hole scramble, giveaways, lunch, and on-course contests, with all proceeds benefiting the SCDAA’s goal of increasing advocacy and support for people living with SCD in the U.S.
And on Sept. 17, SCDAA leadership will host a Washington cocktail reception, Sickletini on the Hill, for SCD advocates.
Local SCDAA chapters are planning events including a Sept. 5 walk in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a walk on Sept. 12 in Norfolk, Virginia, a 5K run on Sept. 12 in Tallahassee, Florida, a walk-jog-bike-a-thon on Sept. 19 in Chicago, and a walk-run-bike on Sept. 26 in New Haven, Connecticut.
This year’s Sickle Cell Awareness Month also features events aimed at bringing the community together to learn and connect. Summits and conferences are being held on Sept. 3 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sept. 12 in Durham, North Carolina; from Sept. 16-19 in Long Beach, California and virtually; and on Sept. 26 in Indianapolis.
Other events taking place this month include a picnic in Baltimore on Sept. 19 and an awareness dinner in Oregon on Sept. 24.
Beyond spreading awareness about SCD itself, promoting blood donation is also a key goal of Sickle Cell Awareness Month. People with SCD often rely on blood transfusions to help manage the disease, so it’s crucial to have appropriate donor blood on hand. Since SCD disproportionately affects Black people, it’s important to have donor blood from Black communities. An advocacy group is hosting a SCD awareness blood drive on Sept. 9 in Las Vegas.
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