Over 100,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One Bakersfield nonprofit is striving to help local Kern County residents overcome this disease.
The Hina Patel Foundation hosted its 10th annual "Farwell to Sickle Cell" 5K/10K Walk/Run on September 22 at the Park at River Walk in Bakersfield.
The Foundation is named after and dedicated to Hina Patel, a Bakersfield teenager who battled sickle cell anemia for 17 years before passing away at the age of 19. Her mother, Bhavana Patel, runs the foundation in her memory.
"Her dream was to raise awareness," Patel said.
Registration for the 5K/10K began at 6:30 a.m., and the race began at 8 a.m. All proceeds raised from the event go toward the Hina Patel Foundation's mission to fight sickle cell disease.
The foundation provides support groups, makes donations, and funds research to the disease and hopes to one day help find a cure.
