The Florida Sickle Cell Center Inc., a nonprofit organization supporting those affected by the disease, hosted its annual event at Depot Park Monday morning.
The event aimed to raise awareness for those living with the disease. The gathering featured live music, local food vendors, support resources, an on-site blood drive and a bone marrow registry.
Attendees could register online and donate to the organization. Registered participants received commemorative bags with a T-shirt, water bottle and custom wristband. Those who couldn’t attend could register for free as virtual walkers.
Hannatu Tunga-Lergo, the 43-year-old president and CEO of the organization, said it was her first time coordinating the event. Planning began in December.
Tunga-Lergo said her personal experiences with sickle cell disease influenced this year’s theme: “A Journey.” The theme was chosen to highlight the role the community plays in the lives of people with sickle cell disease, she said.
Tunga-Lergo said the disease has affected her family and friends. She wrote a children’s book titled “What Happened to Charlie?” to honor a childhood friend who died from sickle cell disease, an experience that shaped her understanding of the condition, she said.
“For me, it was more important to showcase the community and let [them] understand that they actually are a part of their journey and not just as a bystander,” she said.
Growing up in Gainesville, Tunga-Lergo said she often attended similar events that attracted hundreds of people around UF’s campus. This year, she wanted to bring back the same level of involvement, she said.
“Gainesville really used to show up for these events,” she said. “Hundreds of people would come out to walk.”
Dokyong Tunga-Lergo, her brother and a board member of the organization, said he supported his sister throughout the planning process by offering ideas for sponsors, vendors and partnerships.
He felt Depot Park was safer and more community-oriented than past locations like Albert Ray Massey Park, formerly known as Westside Park, he said.
As someone living with sickle cell disease, Dokyong said the event gave him a sense of recognition. He was first diagnosed in his early 30s in his home country of Nigeria, where he was told he had a short life expectancy, he said. In the U.S. he felt his diagnosis was recognized.
At 41, he hopes events like this will increase awareness and improve how people with the disease are treated, he said.
“I feel like I’m being seen,” he said. “Not only [do] I feel seen, but I feel listened to.”
Alexandra Garrido, a 21-year-old UF health science senior, is the sickle cell captain for Streetlight, a volunteer organization at UF Health Shands Hospital that fosters relationships between students and patients.
Her group focuses on supporting patients and raising awareness about the condition, she said. The event also raises money for patients who may need financial assistance.
Garrido said she enjoys interacting with patients and developing ideas for additional resources like care packages and job opportunities.
“I’ve been able to interact with patients that have this illness, and they’re all amazing people,” she said. “I just want to help out in any way that I can.”
Christine Cama, a 21-year-old UF behavioral and cognitive neuroscience senior, said it was her second time attending the walk.
Cama said she participated as a Streetlight volunteer and attendee last year and returned after having a positive experience. As a volunteer, she helped participants register and stay hydrated.
The event required a lot of teamwork, she said, but the volunteers were pleased with the outcome.
“Everybody was doing something,” she said.
Contact Lily Hartzema at lhartzema@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lilyhartzema.
Lily Hartzema is a senior journalism student at UF with a minor in geography. This is her third consecutive semester at The Alligator. She previously served as a copy editor in Summer 2026 and is a returning metro reporter. In her past-time, she enjoys reading, exploring new trails and photographing anything that catches her eye.
