MACON, Ga. — The Tubman Museum continues to celebrate Black History Month with their resource fair and blood drive on Saturday.
The fair, called "living legends,'' was a special tour and blood drive for the American Red Cross in the hopes of fighting sickle cell within the African American community.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become crescent-shaped and can lead to severe pain, organ damage, and complications such as stroke.
It is estimated that over 100,000 people in the U.S. have sickle cell disease and may require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lifetime — as many as 100 units of blood per patient each year.
Timothy Thomas, of the Middle Georgia Pan-Hellenic Council, said blood donation was important in fighting the disease.
"Our blood has a powerful effect on those with sickle disease, and again we just want to encourage those to come out and donate. Become a consistent donor at a blood drive, it doesn't have to be this blood drive but any blood drive. Your local church, your local community...we should be routine donors and give back. we have to understand that blood saves lives," he said.
The blood drive event also featured "living legends" dressed as prominent civil rights figures giving tours for museum guests not donating blood.
For more information on Black History month and prominent figures around Georgia, you can visit 13WMAZ's 'People you should know for Black History Month 2024' list.