SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Growing West Valley group supports sickle cell warriors

Zoom meeting welcome Arizonans suffering with disease

Teen sickle cell warrior Caleb Afanou, from Tolleson, left, his father, Kuoami Afanou, and Vitalant Senior Account Manager Katrina Eaton, right, smile during the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting of a Glendale-based sickle cell support group at Mount Zion Prayer Ministries International Church.

(Independent Newsmedia/Richard Smith)

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, left, presents the Black History Month proclamation to Marcia Garland, founder of Black Business Owners Coalition Of Glendale, during the Feb. 13, 2024 City Council meeting in the Glendale Civic Center.

(City of Glendale)

A support group to assist with what can often be a lonely battle against sickle cell anemia started meeting a year ago in a side room of a downtown Glendale church.

It started mostly because of a summer 2024 seminar Glendale resident Rev. Marcia Garland — who does not have the blood disorder — could not get out of her mind,

Garland also is the founder of the Black Business Owners Coalition of Glendale.

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