Event Description
What?
Raising Sickle Cell Awareness One-Mile at a Time!
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois (SCDAI) invites you, your family & friends to get out safely while social distancing and join us in raising awareness and funding for individuals in Illinois dealing with the daily struggles of Sickle Cell Disease! Register to receive your 2020 event tank top & plan a day to wear it, take photos, and join us VIRTUALLY this year for our 46th Annual WALK/JOG/BIKE -A-Thon For Sickle Cell. September is Sickle Cell Awareness month yet we are still experiencing the effects of Covid-19. Please help us by getting the word out and gearing up to either walk, jog, run or ride in support of individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease while honoring individuals who have passed away from Sickle Cell Disease!.
Why?
Sickle Cell Disease affects more than 100,000 Americans of all different racial and ethnic backgrounds, including, Africans, Arabians, Israelis, Greeks, Italians, Hispanics, and Turks. Chances are that many of us know someone who has sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, or an abnormal hemoglobin trait.
Sickle Cell Anemia is diagnosed at birth and caused by genetically inheriting two sickle genes, one from each parent. People with Sickle Cell Anemia have sickle hemoglobin that makes the red blood cells rigid and causes some red blood cells to take on a sickle shape. Some symptoms associated with Sickle Cell Anemia: anemia, infections, severe pain episodes, strokes, growth and puberty delay, and acute chest syndrome.
The average life span for persons with sickle anemia isn’t known, but it has improved due to increased treatment therapies. Bone marrow transplants are a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia, but every individual with Sickle Cell Anemia is not a candidate for this procedure.
Who?
For over 48 years, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois has been working in the community to improve the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell disease and their families. Our Annual 5K Timed Run/8K Walk-Jog-Bike-A-Thon is our largest fundraising event of the year. Typically we have families and supporters from across the State of Illinois join us on Chicago's beautiful lakefront. In spite of the pandemic, now is the time to commit to your fitness goals while raising money for a worthwhile charitable, 501c3 organization. 100% of the proceeds are from all our events are tax-deductible and will go directly to fund programs that provide direct support services to individuals with sickle cell, as well as awareness, education, and advocacy for the community.
When?
September 16-October 14, 2020
Starting Wednesday, September 16, and ending Wednesday, October 14, 2020 (One month to get out, get active, raise funds, and awareness for SCD).
1. Register to participate individually or as a team and set your fundraising goal!
2. Arrange with a staff member to pick up your event tank top & mask from the SCDAI office prior to your chosen day of participation (please note that staff times and availability will vary). 8108 S. Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60620
3. Put on your event tank top & your mask, begin walking, running, jogging or biking and take some photos to share with us (Please note if you share your photos with us we will be sharing them via social media and email to show everyone how we all came together in Illinois for our families with Sickle Cell Disease to raise awareness, funding, and support!) You can share photos with us by:
- Emailing them to sicklecelldisease-illinois@scdai.org
- Posting and tagging your photos to the SCDAI Facebook (@scdaillinois), Instagram (scdai), twitter (@scdaillinois) page using the hashtag #SCDAIWJBAT2020
What is the cost?
$30 donation for individuals 21 & over
$15 donation for individuals 20 & under
