Sponsored Content

This blood condition is more common than you might think

What to know about Sickle Cell Disease, plus ways to help our neighbors with The Blood Connection.

Sponsored by
A mobile Blood Connection center.

Every pint of blood donated can bring comfort, stability, and hope to patients with SCD.

Photo by The Blood Connection

100,000. That’s how many Americans are affected by Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) every year. This often painful and life-threatening condition affects oxygen levels in the blood, causing major health problems for patients.

People with SCD require regular blood transfusions to increase oxygen and free blocked blood vessels. That’s where you come in. The Blood Connection needs more blood donors — especially people of color — to support those in need. Every pint donated can help ease suffering and improve outcomes.

Here’s how you can support SCD patients in our community:

  1. Make an appointment at the Glenwood Community Blood Center or a local mobile drive.
  2. Donate blood (it only takes about an hour, or one episode of “Love Island”).
  3. Earn $40-50 in TBC Rewards, which can be redeemed for e-gift cards.

Pro tip: Use this online search tool to find mobile drives near you.

Save lives + earn rewards

More from RALtoday
Head to Coastal Credit Union Music Park on Saturday, April 18 to honor earth with a cleanup, eco talks, and an earth-friendly market
Explore group volunteer opportunities, from hands-on projects to custom experiences, that let your team give back to the Raleigh community.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
March is here, and Triangle basketball is better than ever. See how Duke, UNC, and NC State men’s and women’s basketball teams did during March Madness.
In honor of National Poetry Month and Raleigh’s first poet laureate position, we’re inviting you to channel your inner Shakespeare, Dickinson, or Keats.
Will Wade led Wolfpack men’s basketball for one season, leaving a 20-14 record and a postseason exit in the First Four.
We asked our readers which women leaders in Raleigh business are making history today — you nominated local CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs shaping the region’s future.
This fan-favorite spot will open its next coffee shop next to Alo Yoga in the Main District.
All three cities are pitching themselves for an MLB team.
Mayor Janet Cowell delivered the 2026 State of the City address at the City of Raleigh Museum on March 18 — here’s what you need to know from this year’s address.