Happy Spring Everyone!

We at the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario want to thank everyone that participated at last year's walkathon. We took 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Womens 5K 1st in Mens 10K. Our goal is to be #1 this year in total funds raised as well as hold our title in the 5K and 10K! The collaborated Walk Good Walk-a-thon will be on Sunday, May 3rd at the Jamaican Canadian Association Centre.

We are raising funds to continue our work in educating, supporting and advocating for individuals living with sickle cell disease and their families. This is our 34th year as a volunteer agency that endeavors to optimize the quality of life for those living with

Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle Cell Disease SCD is an inherited, genetic condition that can be life threatening. The irregular crescent or sickled shape of red blood cells in those affected by the disease causes chronic pain, swelling in the joints, respiratory infections and stroke. The disease went largely unrecognized and undiagnosed for hundreds of years until the first official report about Sickle Cell was published in Chicago in 1910. The World Health Organization has declared Sickle Cell Disease a world health problem and we celebrated 100 years in 2010.

The 8.5 x 14 pledge sheet is attached for printing:

Create a team name and appoint someone as your Team Leader and challenge your coworkers/schools/businesses to participate

Wear something red to symbolize the red blood cell on May 3rd

You can buy an SCAO t-shirt on the day of the walk. We will be selling them for $10 each.

All pledge sheets must have a minimum of $100 each to avoid a $40 Administrative charge by JCA

All pledges $20 and over will receive a tax receipt from JCA and a thank you note from SCAO

Each group will be photographed, with their team sign, on the day of the walk and the pictures will be posted on our website for everyone to see how the community came together to support SCD.

Look out for our updates on twitter SCAO and Facebook SickleCellCanada and on our website http://www.sicklecellontario.ca/

For more information, please call 416-789-2855 or 647-400-1549