Sickle Cell Media Pack
Sickle Cell Social Media Pack
Whether you are looking to raise awareness or are running a fundraiser, we want to support you in getting the word out!
We are so grateful to anyone who chooses to raise awareness and funds for sickle cell. We have created this page so that you can have access to free, high quality, information, graphics, videos and more to help in your awareness and fundraising efforts.
Feel free to download and use these resources. There are also a few which have space for you to include your own images or text.
This page also includes information on sickle cell as well as advice and guidance.
Key Information – Events – Social Media – Downloadable Graphics
Key Information
About Sickle Cell Disorder
- Sickle cell disorders are a group of illnesses which affect your red blood cells.
- Sickle cell is a genetic condition, which means it is passed on from your parents and you are born with it; you cannot catch it from other people
- Sickle cell disorders causes your normally round and flexible blood cells to become stiff and sickle shaped, stopping the blood cells, and the oxygen they carry, from being able to move freely around the body and causing pain.
- Sickle cell disorder is a long term inherited blood condition that causes excruciating pain, can be life threatening, causes multiple problems such as specific severe infections, strokes, chronic fatigue, delayed growth and progressive tissue and organ damage.
- People are often admitted to hospital when they have a sickle cell crisis, given strong pain killers such as morphine to control the pain, intravenous therapy and antibiotics
- Some require regular blood transfusions to help reduce the number of sickle cell crisis as well as prevent life-threatening problems.
Did You Know
- SCD is inherited from both parents; sickle cell trait is inherited from one parent.
- SCD mostly, but not exclusively affects people from African and Caribbean backgrounds
- 1 in 76 babies born in the UK carry sickle cell trait.
- Approximately 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.
- Approximately 270 babies with SCD are born in the UK every year.
- A simple blood test will tell whether you have sickle cell trait or the disorder
- Children with SCD are at increased risk for stroke, the risk is highest between the ages of 2 and 16.
- Episodes of pain may occur in sickle cell disorder and are generally referred to as a crisis
About the Sickle Cell Society
The Sickle Cell Society is the only national charity in the UK that supports and represents people affected by a sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life. First set up as a registered charity in 1979, the Sickle Cell Society has been working alongside health care professionals, parents, and people living with sickle cell to raise awareness of the disorder. The Society’s aim is to support those living with sickle cell, empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Events / Fundraising
We would love to support you in running a fundraising and awareness event. All you need to do is visit our website, fill out the fundraising form and send it to our fundraising officer.
The form can be found here: www.sicklecellsociety.org/fundraising/
Once completed please send it to Ainhoa Munoz at ainhoa.munoz@sicklecellsociety.org
Looking for ideas?
Coming up with an idea can be difficult, so we have provided a few suggestions below:
- Sponsored run, walk, or cycle (following social distancing)
- Sponsored 24hr-a-thon (do something you like for 24hrs)
- Online class – teach your friends and families a new skill
- Shaving or dying your hair (or other dramatic change) – why not show the process on video chat?
Make sure to fill out the form so we can support you.
Running an Online Event?
Once you have organised an online event we would love to help you raise awareness by sharing it on social media. We also would love to publicly thank you and share your photos. Make sure you let our Fundraising Officer, Ainhoa, know by emailing her at ainhoa.munoz@sicklecellsociety.org
Why not share your story with your local newspaper?
If you are running an awareness and fundraising event or fundraiser, then why not share it with your local newspaper? Local papers love to share what people in their community are doing and it is a great way to raise even more awareness.
Donate
As well as running an event or fundraiser, another great way to support our work is by donating and by encouraging others to donate. We rely on your kind donations to keep doing the work we do. Every donation allows us to reach more people, run more activities, and improve the lives of those living with sickle cell.
Donate here: www.sicklecellsociety.org/donate/
Text
We have created some tweet-length text for you to share on social media or share with friends and family. Make sure to keep the links and hashtags so we can find your posts and share them.
I’m raising money for the sickle cell – an inherited blood disorder that affects around 15,000 people in the UK. Find out more and support me here: [link to your fundraiser]
Join me in supporting the sickle cell community by donating to @SickleCellUK – the UK’s only national charity supporting people living with sickle cell: www.sicklecellsociety.org/donate/
Sickle cell can cause excruciating pain and can be life threatening. Join me in making a difference by supporting my fundraiser: [link to your fundraiser]
Sickle cell is an inherited blood condition that causes excruciating pain, can be life threatening, and causes multiple problems. Find out more here: https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-sickle-cell/
Graphics
‘A picture is worth a thousand words’
Using graphics is a great way to visually tell a story and raise awareness. Images grab people’s attention and help humanise facts and figures. We have created a range of graphics for you to use for all sorts of platforms.
Twitter & Facebook
Instagram & WhatsApp
Key Links
Sickle Cell Society – www.sicklecellsociety.org
About Sickle Cell and Trait – www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-sickle-cell/
Give Blood – Click here to register to give blood
Website: www.sicklecellsociety.org
Phone: 02089617795
Email: info@sicklecellsociety.org
Twitter: @SickleCellUK
Facebook: @SickleCellUK
Instagram: sicklecelluk
Social Media
Social media is a great way to raise awareness and encourage people to donate. All throughout the year we want to flood social media with information about sickle cell so everyone in the world will know about it.
Below are a few ideas of what you could tweet/post/share as part of your awareness and fundraising. They can be combined with the graphics we have created below. Be sure to tag us in your posts and use the hashtags so we can share and retweet you!
Sickle Cell Society on Social Media: