On the Summit’s Horizon: Community Blood Drive Raises Sickle Cell Awareness

By Rev. Christopher W. Riley
FWIS Contributing Writer

Timothy Lymon only lived to be 17 years of age. He lost his battle with Sickle Cell Anemia in 1983. However, he continues to make an impact over 40 years after he walked this earth, Lymon would have been 58 years old on February 28.

The Timothy Lymon Sickle Cell Foundation held a Blood Drive on Saturday, February 24 at True Love Baptist Church, 715 East Wallace Street. True Love’s pastor Rev. Robert Bell was one of the first to donate.

The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Upsilon Lambda Chapter (TUL) volunteered at the event. John Key, Chapter President shared, “Alpha Phi Alpha prides itself on a willingness to support the community. It’s no secret that blood donations are down, and when given the opportunity to support such a worthy event, the Brothers of TUL gladly jumped in to provide assistance where necessary. It’s our goal to further develop this partnership going forward. We appreciate the opportunity.”

According to Change for SCD (www.changeforscd.com) 1 in 365 newborn Black Americans will have Sickle Cell Disease, 1 in 13 Newborn Black Americans will carry the Sickle Cell Trait and 1 in 16,300 Newborn Hispanic Americans will have SCD. SCD is an inherited lifelong disease that presents a wide range of disease severity including acute and chronic complications, widespread organ damage, and the risk of early mortality.

Despite the wintry weather of Saturday morning, we were able to make a dent in the need for blood to aid Sickle Cell patients, said, Beverly Lymon, Executive Director of the Timothy Lymon Sickle Cell Foundation and older sister of the deceased Lymon. “We were able to collect approximately 24 units of blood that will potentially help 72 people (every (1) person who donates blood can potentially help (3) people). Our goal was 58. Praise God we surpassed our goal.”

The Blood Drive was facilitated by Versiti of Indianapolis which has been in existence since 1952. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana supplies blood services, blood products and specialty services to more than 80 hospitals across the state and collects more than 130,000 units of blood annually.

In addition to the men of Alpha, the National Honor Society of Snider High School which was where the late Timothy Lymon attended also volunteered at the Blood Drive. “Everybody is lovely. Feels like a small community, a family. It was great volunteering and helping those in need.” said, Snider Senior, Braylin Charlton.

Lymon shared that the following businesses supported the event: Trader Joe’s, Mission Ribs, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Fresh Market of Coventry and Community Harvest Food Bank. The African-American Healthcare Alliance also co-sponsored the event and is a huge supporter of the foundation. “We could not have had a successful event without the community coming together, said Lymon.