GREENSBORO, N.C. -- You can two-step your way into health while helping others on Friday, April 13, 2018. Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency wants you to party with a purpose and support their mission to provide care and education for people with Sickle cell anemia.
Trevis Watts is living with Sickle cell. The 21-year-old NC A&T student learned he had the disease just a few years ago.
"I was born with Sickle cell because both my mom and dad have the trait, but I didn't find out about it until I was in my teens. I had a flare up and my mom had actually forgotten about it, because it had not bothered me for so long," said Watts.
Watts says living with the condition isn't easy.
"It can be quite challenging," said Watts. "I have to attend doctors appointments and I sometimes have to be admitted into the hospital, but I persevere and I continue to press forward."
Sickle cell is a condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body. Patients usually experience severe pain in the abdomen, chest, bones or joints. They can often have frequent infections, experience delayed growth, vision problems as well as swelling in the hands and feet.
There's no cure for Sickle cell though treatment can help.
"Tonight's event will raise funds that we will use to support services for persons living with Sickle cell disease and will help support our summer camp and other programs that we have at the agency," said Kathy Norcott, Executive Director of Piedmont Healthy Services and Sickle Cell Agency.
"The purpose is to raise awareness, but dancing is a healthy way to get people up to exercise," explained Norcott. "A lot of people don't do a lot of exercising, but they will come and dance. So, they'll get to step and not realize their exercising and those who have their Fitbits can count their steps as well."
The dance party fundraiser will take place Friday, April 13, 2018 from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. at Dynacon Event Center located on East Wendover Ave. in Greensboro. The night will feature Urban Ballroom Dancing, Line Dancing, Chicago Stepping, Two Step and Lip Sync Battles.
For more information about Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, click here.