Sickle Cell Warriors in Kansas City
American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City is a Member of Nonprofit Connect. Their mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Learn more about their services here.
About Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disease in the United States. Roughly 1 in 12 African Americans carry the sickle cell disease genetic trait and nearly 100,000 Americans suffer from the disease, most are African American.
Sickle Cell makes red blood cells hard and crescent or “sickle” – shaped instead of soft and round, and die earlier than normal red blood cells, causing anemia. As a result of the disease, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which is required for healthy organs. This is a painful blood disorder, and since the blood is everywhere in the body, those afflicted experience pain everywhere as a result.
Sickle Cell disease is a lifelong illness, that requires ongoing blood transfusions to replace affected cells with healthy whole blood cells. A single patient with this disease may receive up to 100 pints of blood each year, just to ensure survival.
Donated blood should ideally come from individuals of similar ethnic or genetic background to the patient because blood and blood antigens differ by ethnicity, and the best blood match ensures the best chance of effective treatment with fewer adverse reactions. African American donors are almost 3 times more likely to match the blood needed for sickle cell patients than donors who are not Black/African American.
Today, less than half of the blood the Red Cross provide for patients with sickle cell disease is from African American blood donors. This means we can only provide optimal blood transfusion matches for sickle cell patients about 40% of the time. With the other 60%, we provide the next best match available, often from donors with different ethnicities from the recipient, which may lead to adverse physical reactions. In 2019-2020, the Red Cross did not have enough African American blood donations to meet the treatment need for sickle cell patients with the most compatible blood match. We need more Black donors so we can better serve patients in need.
National Response
The American Red Cross has launched a nation-wide campaign to increase the number of African American blood donors by the end of December 2025 to help eliminate the gap in our ability to meet hospital demand and provide the most compatible units for patients with sickle cell disease. The Sickle Cell Initiative is one of three pillars of our diversity and inclusion action plan. The initial focus of the initiative will be partnerships with Black community-based organizations to educate the Black community on the need for blood and the critical role that blood donors who are Black play in helping sickle cell patients. These organizations will be encouraged to host blood drives providing convenient opportunities for their communities to donate. This initiative will inspire new donors to give blood, new sponsors to host blood drives and existing sponsors to educate and recruit diverse donors.
Local Response
The Northwest Missouri Chapter of the Red Cross that serves Kanas City and surrounding communities is raising awareness and helping bridge the gap for Sickle Cell patients in need.
Each year, the Red Cross collaborates with the Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi to host the annual Dr. Charles Drew Commemorative Blood Drive. Dr. Charles Drew is a renowned pioneer in blood plasma and was the medical director of the first Red Cross blood bank. Dr. Drew led the way for African Americans to support the collection, processing and distribution of blood and blood products. He was also a member of the Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. This blood drive remembers Dr. Charles Drew along with raising awareness about the importance of donating blood and Sickle Cell Disease.
The Red Cross has also partnered with Kevin Wake, President of the Uriel Owens Midwest Sickle Cell Association in Kansas City, who lives with the disease. He knows first-hand the daily challenges of sickle cell, and he has lost two of his brothers to the disease. Kevin educates the community about sickle cell so that they understand the daily challenges sickle cell patients face, but also that he is proof that you can still accomplish your goals.
Kevin Wake
“I educate and advocate for sickle cell to help remove the stigma from this disease as a tribute to both of my brothers who have passed from this disease, and so that my parents can see a positive result from having all of their children diagnosed with sickle cell,” said Wake. “Sickle cell is my diagnosis, but it does not define who I am or what I can do.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas has also teamed up with the Red Cross to raise awareness. In fact, he donated blood at the Red Cross office in February 2021 and spoke about the importance of donating blood, and the impacts of Sickle Cell.
Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas and Red Cross employees.
With partnerships such as these, the Red Cross is raising awareness and increasing blood donations of African American donors. With a more diverse blood supply, patients such as those with Sickle Cell needs are better met. We look forward to continuing to grow these partnerships and raising awareness about donating blood and the impact it can have on people who live with Sickle Cell.
If you are interested in supporting the community, please consider hosting a blood drive! You can find more information on how to host here.
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