The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) teams with the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA) on a 5K walk to raise awareness about blood clots, particularly within the African American population. ABWA’s Community Service Committee chose to sponsor this 5K walk on Saturday, March 20, 2010 because March is Blood Clot Awareness Month. The walk begins at 11:00 AM, in Prospect Park Brooklyn, although “Check-In” begins at 10:00 AM at the Bartel Pritchard Square entrance at Prospect Park West and 15th Street in Brooklyn.
Georgia’s Boutique in Soho, NY, on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 6:00-9:00 PM is hosting a reception to celebrate the success of the walk and to continue the effort to fundraise for NBCA and alert attendees about the risk of blood clots. We are honored that Dr. Sharif Ellozy, a vascular surgeon from Mount Sinai Medical Center, is scheduled to speak at this event.
Blood clots affect individuals and families more than most people realize. Approximately 350,000-600,000 Americans have blood clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or lung (pulmonary embolism or PE) each year. About 100,000 die, meaning up to 1 out of 3 of those affected. In the greater New York City area (NYC, NJ, CT), there are 56,250 blood clots and 18,750 deaths each year, and most of these can be prevented. NBCA wants to make sure that individuals with blood clots, and their families, experience outcomes of early recognition, quality healthcare, and renewed life.
According to a recent report from the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, African-Americans are at higher risk to develop blood clots than other communities. This hit home for Traci Wilkes Smith, one of NBCA’s Board of Directors as well as a member of ABWA, because she survived a DVT and PE a few years ago. Traci is acutely aware of the threat to life that she experienced, so wants to wake up others to the fact that lives can be saved if blood clots are recognized and treated right away.
We encourage you to get involved. There are many ways to make a difference:
- Register to walk at www.firstgiving.com/ABWA
- Create a personal fundraising page
- Recruit friends, family members and business associates to form a Walk Team
- Donate to NBCA by visiting www.firstgiving. com/ABWA
Contact Yomi Ajaiyeoba aajaiyeoba@aol.com or Traci Wilkes Smith at traciwilkes@yahoo.com for any questions or more information. Click here for more information about both events.
NBCA is grateful to the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA) and to Georgia’s Boutique for their partnership in NBCA’s mission to Stop The Clot®.
