VOWW and DABO partner to move from awareness to action for underserved individuals

SOUTHFIELD, MI – While September is recognized as Sickle Cell Awareness Month across the country, those living
with sickle disease face its ramifications every day. “We’re here to move beyond awareness by facilitating access
to care for people who might be having trouble finding a doctor, getting an appointment, or paying for healthcare
visits,” says Stefanie Worth, Founder and CEO of Voices of Winged Warriors (VOWW). “This Wellness Encounter
offers health assessments that can provide critical indicators about sickle cell’s quieter effects. Our goal is to help
people maintain their wellness and maybe make fewer trips to the emergency room.”

VOWW centers its work on the mental health of grievers and health maintenance for people with sickle
cell, especially as it relates to emergency care. The organization has partnered with the Detroit Association of
Black Organizations (DABO) to host its first Adult Sickle Cell Wellness Encounter on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 from 2-
6 p.m. at The Bridge Center Library, 9928 Grand River Ave. in Detroit.

“We have a long-standing commitment to keeping people in our community healthy,” says Rev. Horace
Sheffield, Jr., CEO of DABO. “Our Choose Healthy Life program offers ongoing wellness programming, particularly
around heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions of particular concern among African Americans.”

Staying well can be a challenge for people living with any chronic condition. For individuals with sickle cell,
maintaining their health presents an even greater challenge at a time when the medical profession is seeing
shortages in both primary care physicians and sickle cell specialists. Yet, access to quality care is crucial for a
condition marked by unpredictable life-threatening pain crises and ongoing organ damage that often creates an
additional burden of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Worth created VOWW after losing her 26-year-old son to complications of sickle cell disease in 2023. “I
found a gap in the sickle cell community when it came to dealing with loss. Grievers often pour themselves into
advocacy at the expense of their own health. At the same time, we don’t want others to experience what we’ve
been through, so we’re intensely focused on continuing to help others. At VOWW we want everyone with sickle
cell to be healthy enough to live their best life – whether that’s attending college, being well enough to hold a
steady job, or qualifying for a transformative treatment. We want this Wellness Encounter to be a start.”

The Wellness Encounter’s health assessments will be provided by Wayne Health’s mobile unit and
pediatric mobile unit. Participants can receive an on-site health assessment including vital signs, hemoglobin,
blood pressure and A1C checks, and kidney function. Referrals to primary care and specialists will be provided, as
well as resources for behavioral health, community assistance, sickle cell health maintenance, and emergency
care guidelines. Lead testing for ages one and up will also be conducted, which can be important for individuals
with pica – common among people with sickle cell.

The event is free, and pre-registration is strongly recommended. However, walk-ins are welcome.
Insurance is not required, but participants must have ID. A parent or legal guardian is required for children 17 and
under. To sign up, please visit www.sicklecellvow.org/wellness. Email change@sicklecellvow.org or call (833) 688-
I-VOW (4869) for more information. This event is sponsored by Pfizer.