Richmond Raiders to visit with pediatric sickle cell patients at VCU

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Players from the Richmond Raiders will meet and take photos with pediatric sickle cell patients on Wednesday, March 26, at 4 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Mary and Frances Youth Center, 120 S. Linden St., as part of an ongoing partnership with adult and pediatric sickle cell programs at the VCU Medical Center.

The Raiders, a professional indoor football team established in 2009, will be using the photos from this event to produce posters and signature cards for fans. Home game tickets will be provided to the families of the patients photographed.

The American Red Cross, Be the Match and The Links, Incorporated are also “teaming up to break the chain” with the Richmond Raiders. The goal of this partnership is to raise awareness of blood, bone marrow, organ and tissue donation, especially among minority groups, to help conquer sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell is one of the most commonly inherited disorders in the country and is especially prevalent among minority ethnic groups.