Click to watch a video about living with Sickle Cell. (National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute)

CHARLOTTE – Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is commemorating World Sickle Cell Day on Wednesday, June 19, by helping raise awareness about the role donors play in the treatment of sickle cell disease.

“While experienced around the globe, World Sickle Cell Day is also experienced by patients in our own community,” Martin Grable, president and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) said in a press release. “We are working with our local hospitals, patients and donor community to ‘reshape’ understanding about sickle cell and bring attention to the ongoing need our local sickle cell patients have for blood products. Their lives depend on blood donations.”

Research shows that sickle cell affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S., 98 percent of whom are African-American. According to studies, more than half of all persons with sickle cell will require a blood transfusion in their lifetime and the majority will require multiple transfusions, using an average of four units per month.

“While not an African-American disease, sickle cell is most often experienced by African Americans in our community,” Grable said.  “Because of the need to be frequently transfused, the best matches for blood type come from African-American donors.”

To learn more about CBCC’s Sickle Cell Program, donate blood or sponsor a blood drive, call 704-972-4700 or visit www.cbcc.us.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 21 regional hospitals, serving 16 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties.  For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 704-972-4700.

RELATED LINKS

National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute: What is Sickle Cell Anemia? information page

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