ATLANTA — Patients, families and their supporters will come together this week at the Georgia Capitol for Sickle Cell Day.
The event is happening Wednesday, Feb. 7.
According to the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, those gathered will "express their Sickle Cell related concerns to elected Georgia officials about ways to improve Sickle Cell awareness and funding in communities across Georgia."
Registration for the event is available here and ends today, Tuesday Feb. 6.
The event will be held at the Capitol from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia was founded in 1971 by the late Drs. Nelson McGhee and Delutha H. King, Jr. and engages in a mission to "engage, educate, and energize the community to improve the quality of life for people affected by Sickle Cell Disease."
From the foundation website, about the disease:
Sickle Cell Disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems such infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.
More than 100,000 people in the United States are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, with Black American predominantly impacted. However advocates stress all people should be screened for the disease, regardless of age or race, as it can impact everyone.