VCU and the Farrior Foundation Tackle Sickle Cell Anemia

NFL stars team up with medical center for fundraiser

Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark, Darryl Klu, Darren Klu and former Steeler James Farrior pose at the event.
Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark, Darryl Klu, Darren Klu and former Steeler James Farrior pose at the event.

The VCU Medical Center and the James Farrior Foundation joined forces in April to host a fundraiser benefitting the adult and pediatric sickle cell programs at VCU Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. James Farrior and Ryan Clark, Super Bowl XL and XLIII champions with the Pittsburgh Steelers, helped to raise funds and awareness for sickle cell treatment and research at VCU.

“James, Ryan and the entire Farrior Foundation are overjoyed to not only support VCU’s leading sickle cell research and treatment programs, but also to bring attention to a serious and often overlooked disease,” said Farrior Foundation vice president, Matt Farrior. He added, “To be helping in Richmond, in our community, is an honor.” Matt and his brother, James, attended Matoaca High School in Chesterfield County, Va. There are more than 900 children and adults throughout Central Virginia with sickle cell disease: a chronic, inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with the disease experience periodic, often unexpected, episodes of intense pain.

Event attendee Will Tunner show one of the evening’s auction items: a signed terrible towel from the Steelers
Event attendee Will Tunner show one of the evening’s auction items: a signed terrible towel from the Steelers.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care to those suffering from the disease to help them and their families deal with all of the ways that sickle cell impacts their lives,” said Dr. India Sisler of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. “They can greatly benefit from the care of psychologists, educational consultants, social workers and physicians.”

The event featured dinner, dancing, a silent and live auction, poignant presentations and the opportunity for attendees to join the bone marrow registry. Currently, the only cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant. VCU is the only pediatric bone marrow transplant site in the state of Virginia and currently offers this life-saving cure to its patients. By collaborating with the James Farrior Foundation, VCU hopes to increase the number of donors on the bone marrow registry and make this cure more widely available to sickle cell patients around the country.