Imagine waking up everyday feeling like sharp glass is moving through your veins. This is the reality for many children with Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle cell is one of the most painful diseases a child can face.

And yet, it is a pain that is often overlooked and ignored.

As a Nigerian, I grew up seeing the impact of sickle cell in my community and I always knew I wanted to do something to help. My name is Iruoma, and I’m a pre-med college student who believes fiercely in the power of love and community. I recently started Love for Sickle Cell Kids (Love for SCK), a soon to be student-led nonprofit with the goal to unite students across the United States (and eventually the world) to show love, joy, and support to children fighting sickle cell disease.

Because the base of our project is spreading love, we thought what better day to host our first project than the day of love itself (Valentine’s Day)!

We are creating 500 Valentine’s Day Care Baskets for children at the Augusta Pediatric Sickle Cell Clinic. Each basket will include a blanket, stuffed animal, water bottle, and a black barbie doll or figurine.

But we cannot do this alone.

We need your help.

Help us show these kids that love is louder than pain, and that an entire community stands behind them. Even $5 helps us place one more gift into the hands of a beautiful child.

Thank you for choosing love!