By TERRY STIGDON
February 2026 marks 100 years of commemorating Black history, and this month, Black blood donors can continue to make history by strengthening community health and rolling up a sleeve to give blood.
In 2021, the American Red Cross launched our Sickle Cell Initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients and improve health outcomes. Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to be hard and crescent-shaped instead of soft and round. It makes it difficult for blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen throughout the body.
As a result, sickle cell warriors can experience severe pain, tissue and organ damage, strokes and more. It affects about 100,000 people in the United States, and one in 13 Black children in the U.S. are born with the sickle cell trait.
Blood transfusions can help alleviate pain for a person living with sickle cell disease and can prevent other complications by increasing the number of healthy red blood cells in the body. A sickle cell patient may require as many as 100 units of blood each year. New treatments like gene therapies, bone marrow and stem cell transplants offer hope to sickle cell patients, but often, blood transfusions are still required to undergo these treatments.
Blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for patients with sickle cell disease, making the increase in African American donors critical. A close match can prevent sickle cell warriors from developing complications from their transfusion therapy, so it’s important that donor diversity match patient diversity. Three years ago, I learned my blood is a match to help patients living with sickle cell disease, and it’s inspiring to know my donations can impact my local community.
A blood donation appointment takes about an hour of your time, but it can be a lifesaving gift for a patient in need. As a former pediatric nurse, I have seen firsthand the impact of this disease on young patients as they experience a sickle cell crisis. Despite their pain, they continue to show gratitude and kindness, as relief would not be possible without the generosity of volunteer blood donors.
During Black History Month, I encourage Black blood donors to give blood now. After your appointment, you can track your blood donation’s journey from our lab for testing to local hospitals where it’s transfused to patients in need. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org to make an appointment to give blood near you.
Terry Stigdon is the CEO of American Red Cross Indiana Region.
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