Sickle Cell Disease Association of Miami-Dade Holds 5000 Walk/Run” in Miami on September 28

MIAMI - Sept. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Miami-Dade County (SCDAA Miami-Dade) Chapter celebrates Sickle Cell Awareness and Newborn Screening Awareness Month with the “Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Run/Walk,” a day packed with fun for families and runners on Saturday, September 28 at Tropical Park Stadium, 7900 SW 40th Street in Miami.

“The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Miami-Dade County is happy to host this fun, fund-raiser in recognition of Sickle Cell Awareness and Newborn Screening Awareness Month. ‘Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run is a special day of healthy family activities that raises monies to assist families impacted by sickle cell disease,” said Harold Ford, chairman of SCDAA-Miami Dade County.  “As patients and parents struggle with sickle cell disease, SCDAA provides ancillary support throughout the year. Our chapter works to provide needed resources to ease the burden of Miami-Dade County families coping with sickle cell illness; while educating the community on the affect and impact of sickle cell disease.”

“The Miami area has one of the largest compellations of persons with sickle cell in America. That’s because of the large Haitian, African American and Hispanic population, the people most affected by sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait,” said Dr. Astrid K. Mack, a leading geneticist in the study of sickle cell disease and founder of SCDAA-Miami Dade. “Getting the test for the sickle cell trait is very important. Two people with the sickle cell trait have a 1 in 4 chance of producing a child with sickle cell anemia.”

The National Institute of Health states the sickle cell disease occurs in about 1 out of every 500 African American births. More than 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait, which occurs in about 1 in 12 African Americans.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act into law. It established comprehensive sickle cell studies and centers nationwide. “It’s my belief if there’s ever a cure for a genetic disease, then sickle cell is it,” said Dr. Mack.

“Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run” registration begins at 6:30 a.m.  The 5K Walk/Run Starts: 8:00 a.m.  The Kids Dash begins at 10:00a.m.  Pre-Registration fee is $30.00 and event day registration is $40.00. To register, please call (305) 324-6219 or visit sicklecellmiami.org or sicklecell5000.eventbrite.com.