PRINCESS ANNE — The Eastern Shore of Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association is promoting Sickle Cell Awareness Month with a blood drive and walk fundraiser both in Princess Anne.

On Friday, Sept. 16 at the Student Services Center at UMES there will be a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 17 meet at the Garland Hayward Youth Center for the “One Mile Down” walk. Registration is $25 and starts at 9:30 a.m. with the walk commencing at 11. For your donation you get a T-shirt and box lunch plus there will be vendors, games, a dance group and DJ K.O.T.J. will provide the music.

Preregister through EventBright or email Shanda Ward at esmscda@gmail.com for more details. Funds are used to bring awareness about sickle cell disease and is complications to Eastern Shore residents, and to help identify and fill gaps in services.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. When the red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels it can result in tissue not receiving normal blood flow and eventually becoming damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease.

According to Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, there is currently no universal cure.

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, designated by Congress to help focus attention on the need for research and treatment of sickle cell disease. The Princess Anne Town Commissioners showed their support for the cause by adopting a proclamation at their Sept. 6 legislative meeting.