Fifth Annual Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit Focuses on Mental Wellness and Legacy Building

The Sickle Cell Community Consortium (SC3), in collaboration with Cleverly Changing, LLC, The B Strong Group, and Discovering Moorer2Life, will host the Fifth Annual Sickle Cell Caregiver Summit virtually from November 13–16, 2025. This year's theme, "The Heart of Caregiving: Balancing Mental Wellness, Advocacy, and Legacy," highlights the resilience of caregivers who transform pain into purpose while standing on the front lines of the fight against sickle cell disease.

The summit's importance lies in addressing the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with sickle cell disease. Caregivers frequently experience emotional exhaustion, stress, and burnout while managing the complex medical needs of their loved ones. This event provides crucial support systems and practical tools for maintaining emotional resilience during the demanding caregiving journey.

Supported by Title Sponsor Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Platinum Plus Sponsor Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the event has grown into one of the largest caregiver-led conferences in the sickle cell community. The financial backing from these pharmaceutical leaders ensures that caregiver voices remain central to national sickle cell discussions and that the summit can continue providing free or low-cost resources to families in need.

Elle Cole, founder of Cleverly Changing, LLC, emphasizes that "this is more than a conference—it's a lifeline." The summit's design by caregivers for caregivers creates a safe space for learning, connection, and healing. This approach is particularly significant because it ensures that programming directly addresses the real-world challenges caregivers face daily.

The summit features mental health and wellness sessions offering practical tools for emotional resilience and spiritual renewal. These resources are critical for caregivers who often neglect their own wellbeing while focusing on their loved ones' care. Family-centered programming includes tailored discussions for parents, siblings, spouses, and extended family members who share in the caregiving journey.

Entertainment components, including interactive games and an exclusive screening of an upcoming sickle cell docuseries by filmmaker Janks Morton, provide much-needed respite and community building opportunities. These elements recognize that caregiver support must extend beyond clinical education to include emotional and social connections.

The Sickle Cell Community Consortium has been a national leader for over a decade in bridging the gap between research and real-life patient experiences. The caregiver summit continues this legacy by connecting communities, advancing advocacy, and promoting mental wellness within families living with sickle cell disease. Registration information is available at https://scdcaregivers.org.

This summit's global reach through virtual accessibility makes it particularly impactful for families in underserved communities who might otherwise lack access to specialized support resources. By bringing together caregivers, patients, healthcare providers, and advocates from across the world, the event creates a powerful network of shared experience and collective advocacy that can drive systemic change in sickle cell care and policy.