Southern University At Shreveport is teaming up with LifeShare Blood Centers to host a donor drive to help out a young woman in the local area who is battling sickle cell anemia.

Sickle-cell anemia is a hereditary disease that affects the red blood cells in a person's body. The disease is associated with a number of acute and chronic health problems, such as severe infections, attacks of severe pain ("sickle-cell crisis"), and stroke, and there is an increased risk of death.

According to the university:

The Department of Student Activities, Student Government Association and Student Center Board at Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) will hold a blood drive Monday, September 21 at the school’s main campus located at 3050 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive from 10:00am – 12:00pm to raise awareness during Sickle Cell Anemia Month and to benefit Wtyanna Welch, daughter of SUSLA sophomore, Nhyesha Shaw.

Welch, who is now sixteen, was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia, an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells, at the age of four months. She began having her first blood transfusions at the age of three, receives a transfusion once a month and will continue to do so for the rest of her life.

 

Donors must be at least 16 years old, present a photo ID, be in good health and meet height, weight and donation requirements. Donors under age 18 must present signed permission from a parent or guardian at the time of donation.

For more information or to pre-sign up, contact the SUSLA Department of Student Activities at (318) 670-9433 or rgilliam@susla.edu.

More From 96.5 KVKI