The 100 Black Men of Augusta and the American Red Cross invite community members to help save lives by giving blood on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the historic Sacred Heart Cultural Center in downtown Augusta GA.

Across the country, 100 Black Men of America and the American Red Cross are partnering to expand blood donation opportunities in Black communities and help combat the health disparities that disproportionately affect Black and African Americans, like sickle cell, chronic illnesses, complications from childbirth, and trauma-related accidents.

In the U.S., it is estimated that over 100,000 people have sickle cell disease and may require regular blood transfusions throughout their lifetime. Blood transfusions are essential in managing the very real pain and long-term health of those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race or similar ethnicity and blood type are the most effective way to help patients experiencing a sickle cell crisis. Since the majority of people with sickle cell are of African descent, blood donations from Black individuals are critical in helping those suffering from this disease.

In efforts to increase the number of Black donors across the U.S., the Red Cross introduced a national sickle cell initiative to help ensure patients battling sickle cell disease have access to the lifesaving blood products they need. Sickle cell is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S.

Patients with sickle cell disease often rely on regular blood transfusions to help manage disease complications, which may include severe pain, organ failure, and even stroke. Many individuals who are Black have distinct markers on their red blood cells that make their blood donations the most compatible match for helping patients with sickle cell disease.

Donors can take action today by scheduling a blood donation appointment for this upcoming blood drive at RedCrossBlood.org (use zip code 30901 or the date of October 10^th to locate this drive), by downloading the Blood Donor App, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. To help tackle the need for blood in October, all donors who come to give with the Red Cross will receive a $20 Amazon e-gift card.