World Sickle Cell Day 2025 Marked with Excellent events across the West London HCC
The Sickle Cell community came together in strength and spirit across the West London HCC on Thursday, 19 June, marking World Sickle Cell Day 2025 with a powerful series of events that celebrated patient voices, raised awareness, and reaffirmed a commitment to transforming care for individuals living with sickle cell disorder.
With the theme “Transforming Care and Strengthening Communities”, the day offered a range of vibrant activities and discussions, hosted by key NHS Trusts and community organisations across West London.
Highlights from the Day Included:
Wandsworth & Richmond Council Sickle Cell Awareness Event – Tuesday 17 June
A Vibrant Afternoon of Inspiration, Awareness, and Community Spirit!
Hosted at South Thames College, this dynamic and interactive afternoon was far more than just an awareness session—it was a celebration of community, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Council staff and invited guests gathered for a truly memorable event that blended heartfelt stories, valuable information, and plenty of fun.
The room was buzzing with energy as Titi Adenuga, Founder of Hope for Sickle Cell and an inspiring lived experience advocate, shared her powerful journey. She was joined by Patrish Zea, the South West London Lead Mentor for the Sickle Cell Society, who added her own perspective and passion to the conversation, leaving the audience both moved and motivated.
Adding a touch of entertainment sparkle, acclaimed filmmaker and co-producer of Netflix's Supacell, Sheila Nortley, took to the stage to speak about representation in media and the importance of telling authentic stories. Her insights lit up the room and got everyone thinking about the role of storytelling in shifting perceptions.
Guests also had the chance to participate in a lively quiz (with some surprising answers!), explore helpful resources, and even discover their own blood type using a completely pain-free, non-invasive test—an experience that sparked plenty of curiosity and conversation.
“It was informative, heartfelt, and brought our community together in a truly meaningful way,” shared Melissa Henry, Social Media Manager at Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.
From the inspiring talks to the interactive elements, the event was a perfect mix of education and empowerment—with lots of smiles along the way
Imperial Sickle Cell Alliance (SCA) Annual Event
A Powerful Morning of Innovation, Connection, and Community-Led Change
Held at the W12 Conferences Centre on the Hammersmith Hospital site, this exciting hybrid event brought together a vibrant mix of clinicians, patients, advocates, researchers, and community voices for a morning filled with meaningful conversation, cutting-edge insights, and inspiring collaboration.
Whether attending in person or tuning in virtually, guests were treated to a rich program of expert talks, thought-provoking panel discussions, and plenty of opportunities to network and connect. The focus? Driving innovation in comprehensive sickle cell care and highlighting the crucial role of community partnerships in transforming patient outcomes.
The event pulsed with a sense of shared purpose, as speakers and attendees explored how a more holistic, community-informed approach can reshape the future of care. From new clinical strategies to real-life stories of lived experience, every session added depth to the conversation and energy to the mission.
“This year’s theme perfectly captured the energy in the room – a shared belief that community-informed care is essential for real transformation,” said Feyona Daley, Interim Coordinator of the Sickle Cell Alliance. “There was a genuine sense of unity, progress, and hope.”
With big ideas, bold conversations, and a commitment to collaboration, the event was a shining example of what can happen when science, compassion, and community come together.
Information Stand at Central Middlesex Hospital
To celebrate the launch of ACTNOW at Northwick Park Hospital’s Emergency Department, Central Middlesex hosted a vibrant information stand all about sickle cell and emergency care pathways. Packed with educational materials and friendly faces, the stand sparked meaningful conversations with staff, patients, and visitors—raising awareness and building connections in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Red Cell Celebration Day at St George’s Hospital
St George’s marked World Sickle Cell Day with warmth and celebration at the return of its annual Red Cell Celebration Day. The event brought together patients, NHS staff, families, and local partners to celebrate and raise awareness for people with sickle cell disease, and thalassaemia. Sickle cell disease is a condition that predominantly affects people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage; whilst thalassaemia is more common in people of South Asian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian backgrounds.
St George’s Hospital staff shared how NHS England funding is supporting more person-centred care at the hospital and in the community, including:
• A new acute pain pathway that enables patients in sickle cell crisis to bypass the Emergency Department and access faster treatment in a haematology-led unit.
• The Red Cell Pain Management and Psychology Service, which provides support with:
- Chronic pain self-management including a group pain management programme and a Pain Consultant led pain clinic.
- Physiotherapy
- Psychological support for adjusting to living with a red cell condition
- Health and wellbeing coaching and social prescribing to community-based services (in collaboration with Merton Connected)
- Access to outpatient holistic therapies, including remedial massage delivered by Full Circle Fund Therapies
• Strengthened integration with community nurses and a care navigator to support ongoing access, continuity, and coordination of care for patients.
The Celebration Day also featured food and refreshments, celebration of a patient’s 90th birthday; and mini-treatments for attendees throughout the day including reiki and reflexology via Full Circle. Further contributions to the day included:
• Two young adults sharing their artwork, and experiences of creative expression whilst living with sickle cell. A creative corner in the room hosted the “Small Squares” art project, with attendees contributing messages and artwork to form a collaborative piece.
• The Sickle Cell Society Peer Mentoring Programme, which provides one-to-one support for young people with sickle cell disease aged 10–24 years old, led by mentors with lived experience.
• The Ethnicity & Mental Health Improvement Project (EMHIP) – a culturally informed drop-in wellbeing and mental health hub for Black and Asian communities living in South London.
MP Bell Ribeiro Addy for Clapham and Brixton Hill shared a video message in support of the local sickle cell community. She recently tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament urging the government to officially recognise sickle cell as a disability under the Equality Act, and to improve employment access and flexibility through the Access to Work scheme – a government-funded programme that offers practical and financial support to people with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
For more information, please contact:
- Red Cell Pain Management and Psychology Service at St George’s Hospital – Email: scdpain@stgeorges.nhs.uk
- Sickle Cell Society Peer Mentoring Programme (ages 10–24 years old) - Email: info@sicklecellsociety.org
- Ethnicity Mental Health Improvement Project (EMHIP) - Tel: 0207 846 7144; Email: info@emhip.co.uk
- RISE Project a co-design project working alongside people with sickle cell to help develop self-management resources for people living the condition; Email: Rebecca McLoughlin (Project lead) rmcloughlin@citystgeorges.ac.uk
- The Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource, jointly led by the NIHR BioResource, King’s College London, and Genomics England, is dedicated to studying health conditions in people from Black communities in the UK to support improvements in treatments - Email: ibho@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk
- Blood Donation: People with sickle cell often need regular transfusions with rare subtypes such as Ro – present in 56% of Black heritage donors but just 2.4% of the wider population. Increasing donations from Black communities remains a priority. Visit www.blood.co.uk or the new Brixton Donor Centre to register as a blood donor.
Community Drop-In by Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH)
On World Sickle Cell Day, families gathered at Raynes Park Library for a warm and welcoming drop-in event hosted by the CLCH Haemoglobinopathy Team. The day brought together local families, healthcare professionals, and civic leaders—including the Mayor of Kingston and Deputy Mayor of Merton—to raise awareness of sickle cell disorder and show solidarity with those affected.
The event featured expert talks, personal stories, and practical advice on pain management, nutrition, government support, and peer mentoring. Highlights included moving presentations from the Sickle Cell Society and patient Jemima Nelson, whose story brought the reality of living with sickle cell to life.
Healthcare leaders from St George’s Red Cell Service also offered clinical insights, while heartfelt messages from attendees reflected the power of connection and community learning. As Clinical Lead Benson Aderibigbe put it: “Events like this give voice to overlooked experiences and help build resilient communities of care.”
Croydon Sickle Cell Support Group Information & Awareness Stall
The Croydon Sickle Cell Support Group hosted an Information & Awareness Stall on World Sickle Cell Day, helping to educate the public and support those affected by the condition.
