This is a bonus episode of the VitaminSC3 Podcast.

Atlanta (October 26, 2022) - The Sickle Cell Community Consortium is excited to announce the 2022 Virtual 2nd Annual Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit in partnership with Cleverly Changing, LLC.

The Sickle Cell Caregiver Conference will be completely virtual. The 2022 Virtual 2nd Annual Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit is dedicated to educating, providing resources, and a space for networking among sickle cell caregivers globally.

The theme is Trust Your Instincts: Caring, Connecting and Creating. The Caregivers Summit was organized by sickle cell caregivers for caregivers. Caregivers know firsthand the necessity to keep going when caring for loved ones with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease. Elle Cole, mom of a 14-year-old sickle cell patient, says, "Having a sickle cell caregiver conference is vital during the pandemic as many of us feel isolated because our loved ones have compromised immune systems. By getting together virtually, we recognize that we are not alone in our joys and challenges. This is an opportunity for us to encourage each other and share our experiences.”

The title sponsor is Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Additional sponsors include Global Blood Therapeutics, Agios Pharmaceuticals, and more. Educational sessions are geared towards caregivers, parents, grandparents, siblings, guardians, friends, and care workers of individuals living with sickle cell disease. Activities include family games, trivia games, networking opportunities, and more.

The "Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit" will be held from November 4h through November 6th, 2022, with early check-in and welcome on Friday, November 4th. Sessions begin daily at 7 am PST/10 am EST and include dynamic sessions, education, and interaction with other caregivers. The conference is open to the public. For more information, visit scdcaregivers.org.

The Sickle Cell Community Consortium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in 2014 to "harness and amplify the power of the patient voice." The Consortium includes sickle cell community-based organizations (CBOs), patient and caregiver advocates, community partners, and medical and research advisers. Donations to the Sickle Cell Community Consortium help define problems and gaps in the sickle cell community, identify strategies to address those needs and gaps, and determine the CBO, Community, and Corporate partnerships best equipped to implement those strategies to achieve significant and sustainable change.

To learn more, visit scdcaregivers.org. Follow The Sickle Cell Community Consortium at facebook.com/SCCConsortium, Instagram at instagram.com/SCCConsortium, Twitter at (@SCCConsortium), and the VitaminSC3 Podcast. Scholarships are available. Please email caregivers@sicklecellconsortium.org for a fee waiver.

Cleverly Changing, LLC is a media company established by Carley Cole-Cavins. The company empowers moms, homeschoolers, and advocates for children with special needs such as Sickle Cell Disease and Type 1 Diabetes. The company publishes literature for children living with sickle cell disease, a homeschool podcast called the Cleverly Changing Podcast and creates online content for health literacy and wellness. Follow Cleverly Changing at facebook.com/CleverlyChanging, Instagram at instagram.com/CleverlyChanging, and Twitter at (@CleverlyChangin).

Download images of the event to share at SCD Caregiver Summit Press Kit