After the amazing support I received last year, I've decided to raise money for the Sickle Cell Society again this year! I'm actually donating blood today (28/08/2024) instead of the week of my birthday like I did last year and would like to encourage you all to donate blood too during the month of September!

Similar to last year I want to encourage as many people as possible to pledge to donate blood. So if you donate, money to this JustGiving AND sign up to donate blood (and live near me or can meet me in London bridge) I’ll pledge to 1. give you two baked goods (undecided as of yet) and 2. remind you of your donation date so you don’t forget to attend☺️

For those of you unfamilar with sickle cell, it is a disorder of the haemoglobin in the red blood cells. It leaves people with the condition anaemic and prone to severe episodes of pain known as a sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell mainly affects people with African and Caribbean heritage, though it can be inherited by any ethnicity.

One of the ways to help those with Sickle cell disorder is via blood transfusions, however as most people with sickle cell are black, they need blood from black donors. Only 5% of current donors are of BAME heritage and there’s a dire need for blood from black donors to help black patient, whether they have sickle cell or any other medical emergency

If you want to read more on sickle cell/ blood donations (or want to fact check me🙃) please click on the links below!

http://www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-sickle-cell/

https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/the-donor/the-sound-of-sickle/

https://www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/demand-for-different-blood-types/black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-communities/

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/how-you-can-help/get-involved/key-messages-and-information/why-black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-donors-are-needed/#:~:text=Yet%20only%202%25%20of%20current,blood%20donors%20of%20Black%20heritage

Ps. The number of black donors is on the rise but we still need more!!! Join the growing number today☺️

https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/black-heritage-donors-giving-blood-in-record-numbers/#:~:text=Between%20April%202022%20and%20March,with%203%2C315%20in%202016%2F17.