Elaine Tappin Wins Prestigious Award for Advocacy in Sickle Cell

Elaine Tappin, a dedicated advocate for people with Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD), has been honoured with the prestigious Health Champion of the Year award at the Suffolk Business Awards 2024.  

Elaine is the coordinator of Sickle Cell Suffolk, a group established in 2014 to promote awareness of SCD within Black and ethnic minority communities in Suffolk. Speaking to the BBC about her work, Elaine said:

“We also raise awareness of the need for blood donation. Anyone can need blood at any time, but for sickle cell, it can be used as a regular form of treatment, so it is always better to have ethnically matched blood.” 

Elaine, who has SCD herself, has been instrumental in both educating the public and supporting those affected by the condition. Sickle Cell Suffolk also partners with projects like the SICKLE The Docufilm, a powerful initiative aimed at shedding light on the lived experiences of individuals with SCD. Elaine will be a guest panellist at a screening of the documentary on Friday, December 6th, at Cinema City in Norwich. 

The Red Cell Network, a group committed to improving care and advocacy for individuals with blood disorders, has expressed immense pride in Elaine’s achievements. Elaine is a founding member of the TRCN Patient and Public Voice Group (PPVG) and is active in helping TRCN achieve its objectives.  

For more information on Sickle Cell Suffolk and their initiatives, visit their official website.