September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Vampires and blood drives seem like a no brainer – but unfortunately for an online event like this – a virtual “blood drive” will have to do instead. September also happens to be Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is a red blood cell disorder is common among those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the Caribbean & Central America); Saudi Arabia; India & Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
Last year we raised around $1.7k in our online fundraiser. This year, we’re hoping to raise even more money during #BIPOCVampDay 2024 for Sickle Cell Disease research and treatment. If you’d like to help get involved by hosting a fundraiser in conjunction, streaming content to help raise funds, donating, or being a sponsor – contact us!
LAST YEAR’S FUNDRAISER
We featured a Care Package from sponsor Scarecrow Vampire Fangs, Custom Ink Illustration commissions by Vampy McVamperson , Highlighter and Lipgloss Set from Nocturna Alchemy, Resin Heart Set from Nocturna Designs, Vampiric Dice Set from Pieces of Parhelia, and Handmade Coffin Earrings from SAMazon Creations. We also had some wonderful digital swag including vampire art, music from VLNS Beats, digital books including Young Blood by Sylvester Barzey. If you’re an artist or business and you’d like to donate to our charity fundraiser – we’d love to have you be apart of this special event.
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WHAT IS SICKLE CELL DISEASE?
SCD 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. (www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/facts.html)
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DONATE DIRECTLY
Here are some charities you can also donate to during the event and year round: