4th Annual 5k Run and Walk for Sickle Cell

Legislator Monica R. Martinez held the 4th Annual 5K Walk for Sickle Cell on
November 25, 2017 at Heckscher State Park to honor the memory of a young man from
the Brentwood Community, Bernest Brown.
Bernest Brown was born with Sickle Cell which is a life-threatening abnormality of healthy
blood cells. The disease causes human blood cells to take on a crescent shape prohibiting
blood flow into the blood cells within the body’s limbs and organs. Sickle Cell in its end
stages leads to pain, organ damage and an increased risk for infection. While there is no
cure for it, there are variety of treatments to improve its symptoms and complications.
Even with treatment, the life expectancy of someone diagnosed with Sickle Cell is short.
Among those present were Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory, the Brown Family, 7-
Eleven, and Suffolk Federal Credit Union. This event was held in an effort to raise
awareness of this incurable disease.
“Sickle Cell Anemia is a life-threatening disease that affects constituents nationwide.
Unfortunately, it is not given the recognition that other life-threatening diseases receive.
As an Elected Official, I feel it is my responsibility to raise awareness in Suffolk County,”
stated Legislator Monica R. Martinez.