CHARLOTTE — Dozens of Queen City families met in Midtown Park in south Charlotte on Saturday for a day full of face painting, balloons, and games.
The fun-filled event, known as ‘Family Fun Day,” was organized by the Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas with the goal of bringing together local families who have been impacted by sickle cell anemia.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, sickle cell disease is part of a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. This disease causes irregularly shaped red blood cells, causing them to be hard and sticky. The disease causes poorly shaped blood cells to die early, causing a shortage for the person with the disease.
The disease currently affects about 100,000 Americans.
Dagny McDonald, the co-founder of Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas, says events like these can help others feel less lonely.
“So we bring people together at events like this so that they know they are not alone and that they can do things just like other patient populations,” McDonald said.
The Sickle Cell Partners of the Carolinas launched 13 years ago and advocates for a cure and also provides patient support.
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