Families living with Sickle Cell Anemia will have a chance to socialize and bond with each other at the annual Sickle Cell Community Children’s Christmas Party, on Sunday December 8.

The 38 year-old Sickle Cell Association of Ontario is co-hosting the Party with the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario and Camp Jumoke.

Vice President of the Association and Director of Programs, Serena Thompson, says the event is more than a typical holiday get-together, “Usually when families dealing with Sickle Cell see each other, it’s at medical facilities or when they’re at the same doctor’s office. The Party gives the kids a chance to forget for a time all the issues they have to deal with and just have fun. It gives parents an opportunity to bond socially as well.”

Thompson adds that there is still much to be done to educate the public on the transmission of Sickle Cell disease and its impact on individuals suffering from it, “We go out and do education sessions for the community to stress the importance of getting tested. We also work to dispel myths; for example that this is a Black disease. It is a genetic disease that can affect any race. So we focus on education primarily.”

The Sickle Cell Community Children’s Christmas Party is for kids up to the age of 17 and will feature a variety of fun activities, Kente Claus, and toys donated by the Guyanese Ex-Police Association. The event will be held at the Taibu Community Center, 27 Tapscott Rd #1, Scarborough, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.