And they’re off! Over 250 participants kicked off the third annual Florence Neal Cooper Smith 5K Walk 4 Sickle Cell on Sept. 20, stepping out in unity to raise funds and spread awareness for those affected by sickle cell disease. Photos: Daniel Sangjib Min, MCV Foundation
With drums rolling and brass blaring, the Varina High School marching band opened the event, setting the tone for a day of community action and sickle cell awareness.
Participants gear up before the start of the third annual Florence Neal Cooper Smith 5K Walk 4 Sickle Cell at Henrico County’s Dorey Park. The walk raised more than $17,000 to benefit sickle cell research and care.
Florence Neal Cooper Smith, a pioneering advocate for sickle cell disease awareness and research, was recognized during the annual 5K walk held in her honor. Smith’s decades-long work helped lay the foundation for early screening programs and community education efforts across Virginia.
Community Walk Advances Lifesaving Research and Honors Sickle Cell Trailblazer
More than 250 people gathered on Sept. 20 at Henrico County’s Dorey Park to take part in the third annual Florence Neal Cooper Smith 5K Walk 4 Sickle Cell, a powerful show of community support in the fight against a disease that affects more than 100,000 people in the United States each year.
The event, organized by Finding A Cure Together 4 Sickle Cell (F.A.C.T.S.) and sponsored by the Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority with support from the MCV Foundation, raised more than $17,000. All proceeds benefit the Florence Neal Cooper Smith Professorship at the VCU School of Medicine, an initiative at the forefront of sickle cell disease research and care.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious, lifelong genetic condition present from birth. Of the 100,000 people the disease affects in the U.S., more than 90% are non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals, and an estimated 3% to 9% are Hispanic or Latino individuals. In people with SCD, red blood cells become rigid and deform into a crescent or sickle shape. These misshapen cells die early and often get stuck in small blood vessels, restricting blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body.
As a result, SCD can cause chronic, unpredictable pain and serious complications, including anemia, infections, stroke, organ damage, pneumonia, acute chest syndrome, and kidney, liver, or heart disease. Pain episodes often last for several days or weeks and significantly impact quality of life. In the U.S., individuals with SCD face a life expectancy more than 20 years shorter than the national average.
Addressing SCD has driven the work of countless advocates and researchers, among them, Richmond native Florence Neal Cooper Smith, whose legacy is honored through the Florence Neal Cooper Smith Professorship, established in 2014. Smith has spent more than 50 years advancing sickle cell research and advocating for patients across Virginia.
Long before sickle cell disease was widely understood, Smith led grassroots health education efforts in Richmond neighborhoods and churches. Her outreach helped launch early screening programs, an important step in helping individuals understand their sickle cell status, make informed health decisions, and prevent complications through early awareness. She became a vital community partner to MCV physician Robert Scott, M.D., helping translate research into action despite resistance rooted in racial bias and historic neglect of diseases affecting Black communities. Together, Smith and Scott helped to secure federal support for sickle cell initiatives in Virginia, including the 1972 launch of the Virginia Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Program, one of the first 19 federally funded programs of its kind. Smith also championed newborn screening, enabling early diagnosis and significantly improving long-term outcomes.
“This walk is to help fund and make sure the legacy of Florene Neal Cooper Smith’s tireless efforts in research, education, prevention and a cure are carried on through the MCV community,” said Lisa Townes, chapter president, Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
The professorship carries that legacy forward by positioning VCU as a national leader in sickle cell care and research, providing sustained support for expert faculty advancing treatments, improving care models and driving patient-centered innovation.
To date, more than $600,000 has been raised toward the professorship, with a goal of reaching $1 million to establish a permanent endowed chair. Currently held by Wally R. Smith, M.D., a nationally recognized sickle cell expert and director of VCU Health’s Sickle Cell Program, the professorship is already advancing critical research, care and innovation on the MCV Campus.
"Elevating the Florence Neal Cooper Smith Professorship to an endowed chair will enhance the research activities and patient care efforts at VCU Health," said Brian Thomas, interim president and CEO of the MCV Foundation. "All of us who serve the MCV Campus are grateful for the tremendous support from the community for this important initiative."
Events like the 5K Walk 4 Sickle Cell not only raise critical funds, but also strengthen public awareness, advocacy and community engagement. Continued support accelerates the development of better treatments and brings lasting change for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease.
If you would like to support sickle cell disease research and care on the MCV Campus, consider making a gift to the Florence Neal Cooper Smith Professorship. Gifts can be made online, or by contacting Samantha Charlet, associate director of development at the MCV Foundation.
