Annual Sickle Cell Race/Walk Saturday at Welcome All Park

About a month before the biggest event of its kind in southwest Atlanta, the volunteer coordinator for the Annual Sickle Cell Road Race was at her desk, crying.

After months of sending out letters and calling numerous businesses for help without much success, Diane Walker decided to break protocol.

She showed up unexpected at the offices of possible sponsors for the 32nd Annual Road Race, which is this Saturday at Welcome All Park, 4255 Will Lee Rd.

Some of the businesses didn’t know what they did with the letters, others told her she needed to go through some additional process.

No smile could hide the look of hurt and disappointment on her face as she received one negative response after another.

“Everyone was talking about the economy. That’s how they justified saying no,” Walker said.  “Every door I knocked on, they were giving me excuses why they can’t give to the foundation.

“It was heartbreaking for me. I was so full, I just started crying.”

She turned in despair to the woman who has been a part of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. since it officially started in 1972.  

Jean Brannan, the foundation’s president/COO, has battled to educate individuals and organizations about the sickle cell disease for decades.  She knows firsthand the prejudice that continues to cripple the funding needed to help improve the quality of the lives of those fighting with the disease.

“Sickle Cell occurs more frequently than any other form of genetic disease. But we get less funding  because people assume it’s a black people disease,” Brannan said. 

But Brannan never backs down and she teaches her staff to do the same. She understands the goal is far too important.

“The disease is so painful that when they are going through pain episode, no one can touch them. A kid will tell you it’s like having a toothache all over the body,” Brannan said.  “This is a disease that affects primarily black people, but it’s not a black person disease.”

The money raised from the road race goes to send 165 children, 6 to 17 years old, with the sickle cell disease to summer camp. For six days and five nights, the children stay in air-conditioned cabins and participate in activities such as horseback riding, fishing and arts and crafts under the 24-hour care of nurses, doctors and counselors.

 In 1979, to raise money for the camp, the foundation added the 7K road race with the help of – the oldest black running club in the United States. Ten years later, they added the 4K Walk.

 “I realize that we were missing a lot of people because everybody couldn’t run,” Brannan said. We had a lot of walkers so we incorporated the 4K walk.”

Each year about 1,000 people participate, 300 runners covering 4.3 miles to complete the 7K run and about 700 people covering 2.5 miles to complete the 4K walk.

Traditionally, the event -- which includes race-day registration, is held the second Saturday in April. (The 2011 event is this Sat., April 9; to register in advance, see attached pdf flyer or go to: 32nd Annual Sickle Cell Road Race/Walk).

 “It really is the largest event of its kind in the neighborhood in Southwest Atlanta,” Brannan said.

To ensure the event is a success, the foundation began planning about six months in advance.

In October, the foundation started sending out sponsorship letters to grocery stores, funeral homes and other businesses. It sent out 2,500 applications and 1,100 emails, encouraging participants to register early. Other partnership groups would advertise the event on websites.

 “Really what it takes in order to put on the race is the long-time partnerships that have existed between the running partners, the foundation and the community,” said Monte Fowler, the Running Partners' 2011 walk/race director.

The police and fire departments and all those entities contribute to this event in order to make it a success, Fowler said.

Every two or three weeks the Partners keep in touch with the Foundation to make sure everything is on schedule. They help each other iron out any creases that might cause a collapse in their careful planning.

“The fundraising is critical to the success of the race,” Fowler said. “The Sickle Cell Foundation solicits sponsorships starting in October.... once the fundraiser is grounded, we start with the major planning.”

The Running Partners secure the location; contact the police and fire departments to make sure they are in place. They also notify the railroad, so they aren’t sending a train during the time of the race.

But their main work starts at 5 a.m. in pitch black darkness on April 9 – the day of the race.

 “We are the race managers,” Fowler said of the 50-member group, most of whom have been members for five years or more. “We take care of the course. Make sure the running partners are organized and that they are maintaining that course. “

The Running Partners set up the cones, make sure the course is marked, and that signs are up directing traffic to the location. They organize the volunteers once they are on the course and ensure that the different areas are manned such as the registration table, the first aid section and the aerobics area.

But the Foundation is responsible for finding the 300 volunteers, who have to register by March 31.

The 12- member staff of the non-profit organization is normally there to provide education, screening and counseling to sickle cell patients.

But days before the race, everyone gets involved to make sure everything is done; that about 300 volunteers are in place and the T-shirts and trophies are ordered.

“My staff has been here the average of 20 years,” Brannan said. “They all know their responsibility as far as the road race.”

The Foundation staffers and volunteers will get to the park at 7 a.m., two hours after the Running Partners and two hours before the race/walk begins. The 7K Run will begin at 9 a.m. and the 4K Walk at 9:15 a.m. Registration will start at 7 a.m.

“There is no laughing and playing around.  It’s business,” Brannan said.  “Everybody has an area of responsibility.”  

“We’ve been doing this for 32 years, but it still takes a lot of work to perfect it.”

Walker, who used to shadow the previous coordinator before she went on disability, has since bounced back from that day she broke down.

So far, the Foundation has about five or six sponsors, Walker said.

 “I’m still tapping on doors, I’m still trying to contact people,” Walker said. “When I wake up, it’s on my brain. I anticipate everything I need to do for the road race.”