On Sept.13, the annual “Sickle Cell Matters!” Awareness Walk will take on new significance as Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II joins the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Michigan Chapter (SCDAA-MI), to unveil a first-of-its-kind sickle cell disease (SCD) specialty license plate — a new symbol of support, visibility, and advocacy for a disease that disproportionately impacts Black communities.
Hosted at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the event will bring together patients, families, healthcare providers, and allies from across the state for a day of unity, education, and action.
The newly announced license plate makes Michigan only the fourth state in the nation to approve such a design, with proceeds supporting sickle cell outreach, education, and care coordination. For Lt. Governor Gilchrist, the moment is deeply rooted in legacy.
“This milestone reflects the powerful legacy of leadership that began here in Michigan with Dr. Charles F. Whitten,” Gilchrist said. “He not only created one of the most comprehensive community-based sickle cell programs in the country but also co-founded the national association to ensure a coordinated response to this disease.”
That legacy lives on through his daughter, Dr. Wanda Whitten-Shurney, who now serves as SCDAA-MI’s CEO and Medical Director. She calls the plate “a visible symbol of awareness, solidarity, and the ongoing fight to ensure better outcomes for Michigan’s sickle cell community.”
Approximately 4,000 people live with sickle cell disease in Michigan, which is a chronic, inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells, causing severe pain, fatigue, organ damage, and shortened lifespans. Nationally, about 100,000 individuals are affected, the majority of them African American.
Yet despite its reach, SCD has historically been underfunded and misunderstood. 
According to the U.S. Office of Minority Health, patients with sickle cell disease often face significantly longer wait times when seeking pain treatment, due in part to systemic healthcare inequities and racial bias. Compared to more widely recognized genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis, which predominantly affects white patients, SCD has received less public funding and medical attention — a disparity advocates have long worked to change.
The walk’s 2025 theme, “Boots on the Ground for Sickle Cell Disease,” highlights the vital role of grassroots, community-based efforts in filling the gaps left by broader systems. The event will also offer health resources, connections to clinical trials, insurance navigation, and education for patients and caregivers.
Clifton R. Kirkman II, a Detroit-based journalist, patient advocate, and one of Michigan’s 4,000 SCD warriors, says this year’s walk is more than symbolic — it’s personal.
Diagnosed at just 18 months old, Kirkman has lived with the reality of Hemoglobin SS, the most severe form of the disease. He recalls a time before newborn screening included sickle cell, leaving many families like his unaware of the risks.
Now 38 years old, Kirkman continues to face unpredictable pain crises and heightened vulnerability to infections, but he remains hopeful.
“I’m looking forward to seeing new families because we’re all part of this community,” he told Michigan Chronicle. “Though we’re located in Detroit, SCDAA-MI is for the entire state of Michigan.”
While sickle cell disease remains a complex, often invisible illness, advocates are working hard to bring it into the public eye: not just during September, which is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, but year-round. From increased research funding to equitable treatment protocols, the path forward requires commitment at every level.
With the launch of Michigan’s specialty license plate and continued advocacy from leaders, patients, and communities, that path is starting to shine a little brighter.
“This is about more than a plate,” said Dr. Whitten-Shurney. “It’s about being seen, being heard, and being valued.”
For event details and registration, please visit www.scdaami.org. Should you have any questions or wish to confirm your attendance, feel free to contact Clifton R. Kirkman II directly at kirkmanc@scdaami.org or 313-207-7611.
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