When Brandis Clayton Virgial and Halema Townsend first met through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in 2023, they quickly bonded over their shared commitment to service. During a private conversation, they discovered something even more meaningful: both were living with sickle cell disease.

“Halema came to me in confidence and told me that she also had sickle cell,” Brandis recalled. “I was just like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ We kind of bonded from there.”

As Juneteenth and World Sickle Cell Day are both observed on June 19, the American Red Cross is recognizing these important occasions by raising awareness about sickle cell disease and the critical need for a safe, diverse and stable blood supply.

People living with sickle cell disease often require regular blood transfusions throughout their lives to manage complications and improve their quality of life. Because individuals who receive frequent transfusions need blood that is more closely matched, donors of the same race or similar ethnic background are often more likely to provide compatible blood.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 100,000 people in the United States are living with sickle cell disease, most of whom are of African descent. The condition occurs in approximately 1 in 365 Black or African American births.

“It hurts me when people say, ‘What is sickle cell?’ especially Black and Brown people,” Brandis said. “That’s why awareness is so important to me. I’m trying to be more of an advocate and be that light for people with sickle cell. I want them to see that we can do this.”

Sickle cell disease, the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States, causes red blood cells to become hard and crescent-shaped instead of soft and round. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen throughout the body, which can lead to severe pain, anemia, tissue and organ damage, infections and strokes.

For Brandis, blood transfusions have been lifesaving.

“I remember being in the ICU and my oxygen was getting really, really low,” she said. “They finally said, ‘We need to do a blood transfusion.’ I remember feeling like a new person afterward. My mom joked and said, ‘You must have gotten somebody’s blood who gave you energy.’ But I really did feel different.”

Halema Townsend spent years keeping her diagnosis private before deciding to become an advocate herself.

“I didn’t want people to judge me,” Halema said. “I didn’t want people to say, ‘Oh, you’re going to get sick,’ or ‘You’re doing too much.’ I didn’t want my potential to be limited because of my diagnosis.”

Today, the two women advocate side by side through sickle cell awareness events and encourage others to donate blood to help patients like themselves.

 “Even if sickle cell doesn’t affect someone in your family, I guarantee it affects someone in your circle,” Halema said. “It affects a friend, a relative, someone you know. Can you imagine that person not being around because blood wasn’t available? We shouldn’t have to imagine that.”

The Red Cross encourages eligible donors of all backgrounds to make an appointment to give blood and help ensure patients with sickle cell disease have access to the lifesaving transfusions they need.

Those who come to give blood June 1-28, 2026, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice and be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards.

Make an appointment to donate by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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