The "Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run" is a family affair with energetic racing and walking challenges for all ages. The world-class 5K road race features the fastest runners in South Florida, including teams and groups from the area's running community. Highlights include the Kids Dash 100 Meter Race for 2-4 year olds and the Kids Dash 400 Meter Race for 5-10 year olds. There's even a High School Drumline Competition. The post-race party for "Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk Run" will be filled with music, food, drinks, awards and healthy activities for the whole family.

"The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Miami-Dade County is happy to host this fun, fund-raiser in recognition of Sickle Cell Awareness and Newborn Screening Awareness Month. 'Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run is a special day of healthy family activities that raises monies to assist families impacted by sickle cell disease," said Harold Ford, chairman of SCDAA-Miami Dade County. "As patients and parents struggle with sickle cell disease, SCDAA provides ancillary support throughout the year. Our chapter works to provide needed resources to ease the burden of Miami-Dade County families coping with sickle cell illness; while educating the community on the affect and impact of sickle cell disease."

SCDAA-Miami Dade is a leading sickle cell education and advocacy organization in the metro area. Throughout the year, it sponsors special programs for parents and children with sickle cell ranging from Christmas to Summer Camp. The Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run helps raise funds in the research and treatment of sickle cell trait and disease in the Miami-Dade community.

"The Miami area has one of the largest compellations of persons with sickle cell in America. That's because of the large Haitian, African American and Hispanic population, the people most affected by sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait," said Dr. Astrid K. Mack, a leading geneticist in the study of sickle cell disease and founder of SCDAA-Miami Dade. "Getting the test for the sickle cell trait is very important. Two people with the sickle cell trait have a 1 in 4 chance of producing a child with sickle cell anemia."

The National Institute of Health states the sickle cell disease occurs in about 1 out of every 500 African American births. More than 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait, which occurs in about 1 in 12 African Americans.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act into law. It established comprehensive sickle cell studies and centers nationwide. "It's my belief if there's ever a cure for a genetic disease, then sickle cell is it," said Dr. Mack.

"Help Us Break the Sickle Cycle: Sickle Cell 5000 Walk/Run" registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The 5K Walk/Run Starts: 8:00 a.m. The Kids Dash begins at 10:00a.m. Pre-Registration fee is $30.00 and event day registration is $40.00. To register, please call (305) 324-6219 or visit sicklecellmiami.org or sicklecell5000.eventbrite.com.

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Miami-Dade County was established to encourage and support education, testing and genetic counseling in the hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease and related conditions); to encourage and support research in sickle cell diseases and related disorders; to encourage and support effective and sensitive medical treatment for persons with sickle cell diseases; to solicit and secure funds for the support of programs that provide these services and to provide additional direct services to persons with sickle cell diseases and their families.