The B Strong Group Uncategorized

June 19: World Sickle Cell Day & Sickle Cell Day in South Carolina

On June 19, 2019, The B Strong Group will be celebrating World Sickle Cell Day & Sickle Cell Day in SC by hosting a fun, healthy, awareness Zumba event! We will join Jam With Tam and her Zumba family as we dance towards our healthy selves all for a worthy cause. We will help #ShineTheLightOnSickleCell by providing information on sickle cell disease for our guests. We will have local sickle cell warriors and parents of sickle cell warriors share a little of their story to give the inside perspective.

We, The B Strong Group, will continue to do our part in spreading awareness of sickle cell disease.

Space is limited but there may be a few tickets left, you can get your tickets at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jam-for-sickle-cell-tickets-62241209132

The event will be held at the Richland County Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parkland Road, Columbia, SC in the Board Room from 6-7:30. Refreshments will be served. There will also be door prizes too! This event is free!

The B Strong Group Uncategorized

2nd Annual Braden’s Birthday Bash & Blood Drive was a Success!

We were excited to celebrate our 2nd Annual Birthday Bash & Blood Drive on Saturday, March 30th from 10 am until 4 pm at Caughman Road Park, 2800 Trotter Road. We were happy to once again partner with the Richland County Recreation Foundation and the American Red Cross and host this event that was FREE to the community!

Our theme for 2019 is “A Year of Nostalgia”. We will incorporate our theme into our event. We will have “Old School” games such as Hop Scotch, Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, Double Dutch and hand games. We will also have a Kids’ Corner, arts & craft and different organizations from the community. Entertainment will be provided by students from local schools. We will share information about our organization, sickle cell disease and share the importance of blood donation by hosting our blood drive. We will also be accepting toys to donate to the Cancer & Blood Disorder Center at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. Please join us!

Join us for this free community event!

FUN GAMES & ACTIVITIES

  • Mini Kickball Tournaments
  • Hop Scotch
  • Red Light Green Light
  • Jump Rope
  • Simon Says
  • Chess
  • Four Squares
  • Hand Games
  • And More!

SPECIAL GUESTS

  • Satchel Ford Elementary Steel Drums Band
  • Crayton Middle School Jazz Band
  • Special Appearance by Iron Man
  • Special Appearance by RCSD Team Mascot
  • Special Appearance by local Representatives

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The B Strong Group Sickle Cell Disease

Meet Our Warrior: Sara

“My name is Sara Giannelli.  I am one out of 9 children and I have Sickle Beta Thalassemia.  While it isn’t Sickle Cell Anemia it is a variant of SS.  Living with Sickle Beta Thalassemia has had its ups and downs but I’ve never let it stop me from doing anything.  I know most people would be upset about having a disease that is always affecting their life but I don’t se it that way.  I see it as a part of me that brings out the strength of God through me.  It’s something that I battle and in these battles come testimonies.  Testimonies that I can share to motivate others like me or others who face battles in life.img_0167

At the beginning of this year, I had a sickle cell crisis so bad that I needed to go to the ER.  That same day, I was also supposed to work a junior tennis tournament 2 hours away in Columbia, SC.  As I was laying in the ER, I considered calling and telling them I couldn’t work but there was this little voice that was telling me to push through and not back down.  So I got up, packed my bags and left for Columbia.  It was pretty cold in Columbia at that time but I felt that God was going to get me through the weekend.  He did.  I am now 20 years old and I’ve had several episodes.  I am thankful for how God and my family have been with me through these years and many to come.”   ~ Sara

The B Strong Group Sickle Cell Disease

It’s A Family Affair

I’ve asked each of our immediate family to share their own words about how Braden having sickle cell disease impacts them.  Here are thoughts from one of his big sisters…..

 

I love these pictures of me and my baby brother. These are hands down my favorites for many reasons. When I left for college I missed out on a lot of things that you can’t see through a phone call. One of those things was my brother Braden. These pictures were actually the weekend of my grandfather’s funeral. And the first time we’d gotten to truly bond in years. In these pictures and that weekend he was a normal, carefree, CRAZY 😂, kid. It wasn’t until I actually moved back 2 years later that I saw the reality of his situation. Yes there were TONS of moments like these. But I’d never actually seen him in a real moment of sickness. And the first time I did it scared me. I still remember that unshakeable, feeling of helplessness. THIS is what families of children with Sickle Cell disease deal with every day. Fear, worry, sadness, helplessness, EVERY DAY. THIS is why my parents started The B Strong Group. THIS is why we share as much information and events as we possibly can. We want these families to know that we understand their struggles. We understand their emotions. No family should have to go through this alone. #SickleCellAwarenessMonth #TheBStrongGroup

-Ebonii (2018)