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Greater Boston Community Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Walk Saturday...

On Saturday June 23, 2007 9 a.m., several hundred walkers are expected to come out for the 2nd Annual Lace Up For Life! This awareness walk-a-thon and fundraiser will help bring issues about Sickle Cell Disease to life and promote a better understanding within the community.



Each year the Community Sickle Cell Support Group Inc, supports Sickle Cell Disease patients through scholarships, support services, vouchers and a variety of other services. We will be establishing a mentoring program so patients will not have to suffer in silence any longer. The organization was founded in 1995 by Reverend Ronald Stephenson, who was moved to do something about the lack of sickle cell awareness and support services for families effected by the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in our region. His motivation to form the group was kindled by the comments of an acutely ill patient with SCD, who informed him that the biggest problem for most sickle cell patients is that no one seemed to care.



The CSCSG Inc was formed with the participation of a small group of patients, their family members, health care workers at Brigham & Women'ss Hospital, and Boston Medical Center with the vision of helping others by providing support services for all patients with SCD in our region.



Today the organization is at the forefront of sickle cell awareness in the Greater Boston Region, and provides a list of essential support services to patients with SCD from Brigham & Women'ss Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Children'ss Hospital, New England Medical Center, and a number of other area hospitals and community health centers Our support services include the following:



24 hr on call beeper service; Transportation Voucher Program to assist patients with transportation from any local hospital after medical discharge to home; Juice/Beverage Voucher Program to assist patients with issues of dehydration; Referral to hospitals and agencies involved in the provision of health care and social services to sickle cell patients; Chaplain visits; Therapeutic Music Lessons (piano, violin, and drums) as an alternative therapy to help patients better cope with sickle cell disease; Awareness Seminars pertaining to sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, and screening; Educational Scholarships to help selected patients with sickle cell disease with their pursuit of a college education; Tutoring (Elementary and High School); Annual Summer Bus Trip for children with sickle cell disease; Annual Christmas Party and other recreational activities; Bi-Annual Publication of Sickle Cell Connection Newsletter; Patient Advocacy and Support Group Meetings. This walk will help fund and expand our services.



Walkers are needed to help raise awareness. Volunteers are needed to help with the logistics of the walk and to greet the walkers along the route and as they finish this feat. The walk will start of at the Brigham and Women'ss Hospital parking lot, 15 Francis Street, along Tremont Street, across Roxbury Crossing, past Franklin Park and back to Brigham and Women'ss Hospital. While several businesses have offered thier support donors are still needed for door prizes, oranges and cookies, as well as funding to help with their programs. Donations can be mailed in to The Community Sickle Cell Support Group, Inc., 1542 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120



Come out meet the patients and others who your efforts will help greatly. The first 50 walkers who register will receive a free t-shirt. There are additional prizes for the person who brings the most walkers or the person who raises the most funding.



For more information visit us at www.cscsginc.org, email, or call Michele or Nichole at 617-427-4100. You can also donate online at www.firstgiving.org/michelesicklecell.

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