NJY Donates: SickKids Hospital

Happy Sickle Cell Awareness month to our Sickle Cell Warriors and Sickle Supporters around the globe!

Today holds significance, not only because it marks the beginning of Sickle Cell Awareness month, but also because September 1st 2021 is the 5-Year Anniversary of the BMT transplant that left our founder, Ufuoma Muwhen, sickle cell free! When Ufuoma Muwhen was diagnosed with sickle cell at the age of 2, her family was living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the time. In many ways, SickKids hospital is where her journey started and where she learned to overcome the challenges of having SCD. The nurses and doctors that she interacted with there were the beginning of her passion for sickle cell advocacy and supporting those who really need it.

This summer has been a busy one for NotJustYou. Our mission is to create a support system for individuals and families affected by sickle cell, and from day one we made a wholehearted commitment to be an active and visible force for positive change in our community. Thanks to the overwhelming support and generosity of our sickle supporters (YOU), over the past 3 months, we have had the privilege to take greater steps towards this goal and show that our community is actually anything but local.

On the 30th of August, our founder, Ufuoma, met with representatives at the SickKids Hospital to complete a contribution of $1000 NJY! Additionally, we also donated warrior bags to sickle cell patients in the hematology-oncology unit. For Ufuoma, it was pretty surreal to be back at SickKids on the other side, now contributing to help those who are where she once was. From Edmonton, to Calgary, to Vancouver, and now Toronto, we have gone coast to coast to show the individuals and families who may not have the network that they need to feel supported, that they are not alone, and we are just getting started.

This donation was made in the form of gift cards, which will be going to patients and families undergoing BMT for SCD.