Most people affected are of African or African-Caribbean origin, although the sickle gene is found in all ethnic groups. It is estimated that there are between 12,500 and 15,000 people with sickle cell disease in the UK. 

The petition aims is for the U.K. Government to increase funding for Gene Therapy research to cure Sickle Cell Anaemia.  This is to be discussed in the Parliament. We need more media coverage to highlight the issues with people living with sickle cell disease encounter on a daily basis and the impact on families and care givers.

What is Sickle Cell Anaemia? (Source: NHS)

Sickle cell disease is the name for a group of inherited conditions that affect the red blood cells. The most serious type is called sickle cell anaemia. Sickle cell disease mainly affects people of African, Caribbean and other races, however in the UK, it's particularly common in people with an African or Caribbean family background.

People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they don't live as long as healthy blood cells and they can become stuck in blood vessels. Sickle cell disease is a serious and lifelong condition. Please click on the link below for more information. # ThInk Red! 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/symptoms/