Bank, Dowen College raise funds for Sickle Cell Foundation

Fidelity Bank Plc, the Dowen College, Lagos and the Sickle Cell Foundation (SCF) have partnered to embark on Walk for Love to sensitise the public and support those living with sickle cell anemia.

They will also raise funds to support the foundation in setting up a bone marrow transplant centre in Lagos.
   
Principal of Dowen College, Olawumi Togonu-Bickersteth, said the walk was part of its 20th anniversary celebration, which they have used as a medium to reach out to those with the sickle cell anemia.

She maintained that the school has taken it as a project for their anniversary which is focused on working with the SCF Nigeria in the cure of sickle cell anemia as it plans to establish a sickle cell bone marrow transplant center in Lagos which will cater for people living with sickle cell anemia and provide a cure for them.

“The bone marrow transplant centre will bring treatment of sickle cell to the doorsteps of Nigerians and make it more affordable and accessible to many patients so we decided to support the SCF in this laudable course of establishing a bone marrow transplant center.”

“Fidelity Bank saw the challenge as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and bought into the idea knowing it is for a good course as 75 per cent of people living with sickle cell anemia globally are Nigerians, a situation that touches every family,” she stated.

Founder of the College, Olumide Philips, also said the school has seen of a couple of children with the sickle cell anemia in the past, which motivated them to partner with the SCF to raise funds for the bone marrow transplant facility.