The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Southern Connecticut, invite everyone who has been touched by Sickle Cell disease and those who want to learn more about the illness to attend  a World Sickle Cell Day event starting at 5 tonight, 545 Whalley Ave, New Haven.

Sickle Cell is a genetic disease that affects all races, especially people with an ancestor from Africa, India, Central and South America, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Mediterranean nations such as Italy, Greece, France and Turkey.

The guest speaker is Genice Nelson, APRN, who attended the first World Sickle Cell Day in New York in 2009.  Ginger Davis, who helped organize the inaugural celebration in New York, also will attend the New Haven event.

For more information, call 1-888-745-2327 or 203-385-2253.