As SCA is an inherited, recessive condition, people must receive one sickle cell gene from their mother and one from their father to be diagnosed with SCA. SCA is more common in people with an African or Caribbean family background, and approximately 12,500-15,000 people are living with SCA in the UK, making it the most common inherited blood disorder.

People living with SCA suffer from extremely painful episodes known as 'sickle cell crises'. This happens when sickle cells get stuck in blood vessels blocking blood flow throughout the body. People with SCA may be given blood transfusions to increase the number of normal, healthy RBCs in their blood, and as they can experience severe symptoms and infections, they may need blood transfusions once or twice a month to manage their symptoms and improve oxygen delivery throughout the body.

The NHS needs donors from all ethnic backgrounds to meet the needs of all patients. When someone receives a blood transfusion, they need blood from someone who is closely matched to their own blood type. The best blood type match typically comes from those with the same ethnic background, and as SCA is more common in people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, the NHS needs more black and Asian donors to donate and help people who suffer from blood disorders such as SCA.