Versiti Hosts Telethon in Support of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE – Sept. 16, 2022 – Community leaders will join Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, to help encourage blood donation and educate about the importance of donor diversity in support of National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disease that affects millions of people worldwide, with a high prevalence among African Americans. Patients with this disease can experience severe pain and often require blood transfusions as a form of treatment, sometimes every 3-4 weeks.

Approximately 100,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans and Hispanic Americans. Diversity in blood donation is vital for improved patient outcomes, as rare and uncommon blood types are often found in similar ethnic populations.

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month is a great time to remember donating blood’s life-saving and life-changing importance.

On September 21, from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m., Versiti will transform part of its Milwaukee donor center (638 N 18th St.) into a telethon phone bank to encourage donors to call and pledge three life-saving blood donations.

Community champions and area leaders, including State Senator LaTonya Johnson, State Representative LaKeshia Myers and Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas are volunteering their time at the telethon to ask the community to call the phone bank at 877-BE-A-HERO and schedule one appointment in the coming weeks and two additional for the months ahead.

Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin serves more than 55 hospitals throughout Wisconsin and is the primary provider of blood products for all Milwaukee hospital systems. The organization relies on the generosity of the community to ensure area hospitals have the blood products they need to save lives each day.

To pledge three blood donations on September 21, call 877-BE-A-HERO or visit Versiti.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.