Assembly For Sickle Cell

Published Tuesday 26 November 2024

On Tuesday 19 November, Angelo N, Lower Sixth, organised an assembly for the Sixth Form to raise awareness of Sickle Cell. This is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells change shape after oxygen has been released and then stick together, causing blockages in the small blood vessels.

We were pleased to welcome Natasha Gordon-Douglas, Lead Mentor at the Sickle Cell Society, who spoke about her experiences living with Sickle Cell and informed our pupils about what Sickle Cell is, how it affects the body, ways it can be managed, and the different treatments being developed. 

Also joining us, Yelitza Carmona from the NHS Blood and Transplant Donor Center addressed the assembly to share how donating blood and bone marrow can be used to handle various critical treatments, including Sickle Cell. She explained how the NHS needs 3 blood donations every minute and that stocks of certain blood types are critically low. 

Angelo further spoke about recent developments in research for Sickle Cell and how Casgevy Gene-Editing Therapy is being trialled at Imperial College as a treatment for the disorder. In his last statement, he urged his peers to sign up to donate blood and save a life. 

Thank you to Angelo, Natasha, and Yelitza for delivering this important assembly to raise awareness for Sickle Cell. You can find useful links to information on Sickle Cell and donating blood below. 

Find out more about Sickle Cell | https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-sickle-cell/

Find out about the work of the Sickle Cell Society | https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-us/

Find out more about how and where to donate blood |  https://www.blood.co.uk/ 

Find out more about Gene-Editing Therapy | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/249536/uk-approves-world-first-gene-editing-treatment-blood/