My 101 year-old grandmother spending all of her life in Ghana have lived past the expected life expectancy in most low-to-middle income countries. She lost 5 out of her 11 live births at the age less than 5 years old possibly due to sickle cell disease. Unfortunately, estimates suggests that 50-90% of children born with sickle cell disease in sub-Sahara Africa are at risk of dying before their 5th birthday.  

My wife and I were fortunate that all our three children born in New York received newborn screening for sickle cell disease but can't say the same for families in Africa where there is high prevalence of sickle cell disease.  

I am humbled to join the hike - inaugural 2025 Summits for Sickle Cell Disease to raise awareness and critical funds to support Sickle Forward's bold vision of making critical diagnosis and treatment for sickle cell disease a reality for children across Africa. 

I am counting on your support to achieve this goal.