The B Positive choir made their debut with an exclusive performance yesterday at the MOBO Pre Awards Show at Boisdale Canary Wharf, London.
The B Positive Choir
They will also be performing at various events and locations, which will culminate in a performance at the 22nd MOBO Awards next week at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 29th November. Music is no longer seen as just a form of entertainment but it is a driver for creative activities and social endeavours and its power should not be underestimated. "B Positive" aims to harness this power to create a call to action: Give blood, Save lives.
Marsha Crossland, the Senior Campaign Lead has written the following - 10 things to know about Sickle Cell:
1. This is the fastest growing disease in the UK2. It affects more than 15,000 people in Britain at present
3. Every year 350 babies are born with sickle cell disease
4. Sickle cell suffers are mainly of African or Caribbean decent
5. Sickle cell is inherited through both parents sufferers have 2 copies of a faulty sickle cell gene known as the sickle cell trait
6. The red blood cells are crescent shaped and stick together causing blockages through the blood vessels. This causes excruciating pain, this can cause damage to organs or even be fatal
7. Suffers become very tired and quickly get out of breath
8. It is not an infectious disease
9. Certain conditions can trigger what is called a sickle cell crisis, such as cold, infection, lack of fluid in the body (dehydration) or low oxygen
10. The NHS need 40,000 new black donors over the next 3 years to ensure that they can match blood more closely to sufferers who need regular blood transfusions
Sign up to save lives. Register at blood.co.uk.