Walk for Sickle Cell Awareness and Research

Summer is a busy time for the locals of AFT-Maryland. Beyond their duties as members and officers of public sector labor unions, many volunteer in the community for a number of worthwhile causes. The 2018 Maryland Walk With the Stars & Move-a-thon for sickle cell awareness and research was one of those causes AFT-Maryland showed up for. The state federation manned a table that had child identity packets, school supplies, giveaways, and most importantly voter registration forms. Some of attendees saw the voter registration table and brought over their teenagers to get registered. Others took registration forms back home for loved ones who might not yet be registered.

Members, leadership, and staff from the Maryland Professional Employees Council (MPEC) were also in attendance. That union volunteers annually at the walk, raising money for the cause. President Jerry Smith even walked the course twice, to promote health and well being. The day was marked with fun, laughter, and music as groups raised money, walked, and ran all in an effort to find a permanent cure for Sickle Cell disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Sickle Cell Disease affects about 100,000 Americans; an overwhelming number of them are African-American. In the United States, one out of every 13 African-Americans are born with the Sickle Cell trait. Learn more at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/

2018-08-18