Ekua Bafowah Asumang, a eleven (11) year-old Basic Six (6) student of Pere Plaque Basic School in Cape Coast in line with the celebration of World Sickle Cell Day this year, has began a ten (10) day 751km bicycle ride from Tamale to Accra from 10th-19th June, 2024 to create awareness and educate the public on sickle cell diseases.

The girl who is a sickle cell carrier, nearly died out of her family's hand upon her birth to the disease which her parents then had no knowledge of.

Upon surviving the disease, her family then decided to establish a sickle cell foundation in her name (Ekua Bafowah Sickle Cell Foundation) to use sports, particularly cycling to educate and  create awareness on the disease.

This will be Ekua's second ride. Her first ride was journeyed on December 15 to 20, 2023 from Cape Coast in the Central Region to Mepe in the Volta Region to donate relief items to affected victims of the Akosombo spillage.

Her ride which started at Tamale in the Northern Region, this time around is set to end at the Korle Bu- Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (an adult sickle cell clinic) in the Greater Accra Region with her team of seven members including her father.

The sole aim of the ride is to raise funds to support children living with sickle cell disease and to also sensitize the public about the disease as part of marking this year's World Sickle Cell Day celebration, under the theme, "Donate a Pint, Save the Life of a Sickle Cell Warrior."

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan