Walk With the Stars to Support Sickle Cell Disease Association of America

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HANOVER, Md.—The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America will hold the ninth annual Walk with the Stars fundraiser, where participating teams and individuals can track their time spent walking, running, dancing or moving while raising funds to support the association in preventing the complications of sickle cell disease through awareness, education, advocacy and research.

Walk with the Stars will kick off on World Sickle Cell Day June 19 and culminate in a virtual Walk with the Stars celebration on July 30 recognizing participants’ steps and success. To mark the association’s 50th anniversary, a “50 Hours for 50 Years” challenge will encourage participants to spend 50 hours active during the course of the fundraiser.

“We’re coming together on World Sickle Cell Day—friends, family, co-workers, people with sickle cell disease and their loved ones, everyone—to Walk with the Stars and support a universal cure,” said Regina Hartfield, president and CEO of the association. “The fundraiser will get us walking, running, dancing, biking and moving to benefit participants and contribute to our ultimate goal of breaking the sickle cycle.”

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America has raised a total of over $500,000 through Walk with the Stars to support better treatments and improvements in the quality of health for individuals, families and communities affected by sickle cell disease.

To learn more and register for Walk with the Stars, visit bit.ly/SCDAAWalk2022. Sponsorships are available by emailing finance@sicklecelldisease.org.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disease causing red blood cells to take a sickle shape, which leads to blockages that prevent blood from reaching parts of the body. As a result, people with sickle cell complications can experience anemia, jaundice, gallstones, stroke, chronic pain, organ damage and premature death. No universal cure exists. (sicklecelldisease.net)

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America advocates for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empowers community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure. The association and more than 50 member organizations support sickle cell research, public and professional health education and patient and community services. (www.sicklecelldisease.org)