1Commending and recognizing the Sickle Cell Disease Association
2of America, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter, for their
3many worthwhile and significant endeavors, including its 16th
4Annual Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run.

5WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease affects individuals from al
6walks of life within our society; and

7WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,
8Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter, will hold its 16th Annual
9Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run on September 28, 2013,
10in Philadelphia; and

11WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,
12Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter, was founded in 1982 by the
13Reverend Walter E. Brandon and Willie J. Hubert, who devoted
14their lives to providing hope and inspiration to innumerable
15individuals and families; and

16WHEREAS, Following the Reverend Walter E. Brandon's passing
17due to his complications and battle with sickle cell disease,

1the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Board of
2Directors named the association's annual 5K walk/run in memory
3of his lifelong mission and commitment to advocacy in the sickle
4cell community; and

5WHEREAS, The month of September is recognized as Sickle Cell
6Awareness Month and during this time the Sickle Cell Disease
7Association of America, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter,
8holds the Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run to raise
9funds to carry out its mission and create public awareness about
10sickle cell disease, the sickle cell trait and the importance of
11testing; and

12WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a global disease affecting
13approximately 80,000 people in the United States; and

14WHEREAS, Although persons of African descent are
15disproportionately afflicted with sickle cell disease, it is not
16exclusive to any one particular race or ethnicity, as evidenced
17by its detection in persons of Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian,
18Sicilian, Greek, Italian, Indian and Turkish descent; and

19WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America's
20Project Self-Care promotes self-empowerment in the care and
21management of patients' medical treatment, personal growth,
22quality of life and understanding of sickle cell disease through
23education; and

24WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,
25Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter, has done an extraordinary
26job in serving the sickle cell community by providing invaluable
27resources and assistance to children, adolescents, adults and
28families affected by sickle cell disease/sickle cell trait in
29Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties;
30and

1WHEREAS, For more than three decades, the Sickle Cell Disease
2Association of America has made a significant and positive
3impact upon the lives of countless Pennsylvanians in the
4Philadelphia/Delaware Valley region affected by sickle cell
5disease; therefore be it

6RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend and
7recognize the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,
8Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter, for their many worthwhile
9and significant endeavors, including its 16th Annual Walter E.
10Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run; and be it further

11RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage
12widespread participation and support of the 16th Annual Walter
13E. Brandon Sickle Cell 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, September 28,
142013, in Philadelphia.