WASHINGTON – The Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease is calling on the community to join its 17th annual Cure Sickle Cell Now Move-On event on Saturday, Sept. 23. National Sickle Cell Awareness Month is observed each year in September.

The event features a 5K Fun Run/Walk through the Howard University campus, yoga, and plenty of music, vendors, raffle prizes and fun for all ages.

The goal of the Cure Sickle Cell Now Move-On event is to get participants active in the morning, build community and awareness, and demonstrate solidarity and support for those with sickle cell disease.

“Sickle cell disease is the largest genetic disease in the country, and affects people of African descent,” says Dr. James Taylor, director of the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease. “On a per capita basis, DC has the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease in the country. Howard University houses the only adult sickle cell care center in the Washington region. We continue to be dedicated to serving the community through new initiatives.”

Howard University’s Center for Sickle Cell Disease, founded in 1972 by the late Roland B. Scott, M.D., has a distinguished history of leading clinical investigation in sickle cell disease.  The Center for Sickle Cell Disease was one of the first National Institutes of Health-funded sickle cell centers, beginning in 1972.

Howard University was recently designated a Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease by the Washington, D.C. government.  Taylor and the city are envisioning Howard University Hospital as a comprehensive care center for the treatment of the disease, based on emerging technologies. 

Those who can’t join in person can still be a part of the  Cure Sickle Cell Now Move-On by joining our virtual #CSCN Run/Walk Challenge 2023 on the Nike Run App  – by September 22.  Those with the most miles logged from September 1-22 will win great prizes! Register online and pick up the  “registration, no t-shirt, for virtual Run/Walk" option.

To start the event, participants will gather in front of Howard University Hospital at 2401 Georgia Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20060 at 9:30 a.m. Visit the Eventbrite page for more information and to register.  

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American PhD. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Sholnn Freeman; sholnn.freeman@howard.edu