Local organizations host blood drive for sickle cell awareness month

Posted on September 16, 2024

*^{Students walk the Illinois State University quad. (Facebook/Illinois State University)}*

By WMBD-TV

NORMAL – September is sickle cell awareness month. On Thursday, organizations came together to host the “United Against Sickle Cell” blood drive at Illinois State University.

It was a partnership with the association of black employees at ISU, the Bloomington-Normal alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, incorporated, and the Chi Beta Beta chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, incorporated.

A total of 36 pints of blood were received, surpassing their goal of 23 pints. The Delta’s emergency response team chair Takesha Stokes said they wanted to bring awareness to sickle cell because of the impact it has on the African American community.

“All of the blood that is given today is going to support those patients who are suffering with sickle cell,” Stokes said. “And so we know that it has a direct impact to our community and those who suffer with sickle cell.”

According to the CDC sickle cell disease affects about 100-thousand people in the U.S. More than 90 percent are non-Hispanic black or African-American.

WMBD-TV can be reached at [email protected]

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