Words by Cheyanne Bryan
September marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month and this month Rizzy Amole Akanji has partnered with OurPpls to put on an art and poetry exhibition throughout the month at both BOXPARK Shoreditch and BOXPARK Croydon.
With the goal to raise awareness, enhance understanding, and inspire community action regarding sickle cell disease, the exhibition will showcase Rizzy Amole Akanji's collection, "Children of The Moon With Moon Crescent Blood," inspired by sickle cell themes.
The launch event that took place on the 4th September hosted NHS Blood and Transplant onsite to provide information and sign up volunteers for blood donations.
For more information and to learn more about the event and sickle cell disease: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_YaAERvBKf/?hl=en-gb or read our previous interview with Rizzy here: https://smileymovement.org/news/sickle-cell-disease
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors (SCYSS). This charity aims to holistically support and educate children, young people and their families affected by sickle cell disorders and childhood stroke. Learn more here.
The Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Support Project (SCTSP). This is a charity with a mission to address health disparities in Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Dudley for families affected by sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. Find out more here.
The Sickle Cell Society. This charity is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by a sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life. Support them here.
