As Rise Above continues to grow, we’re expanding our programming and exploring new ways to connect arts, sports, health education and community. To our loyal supporters who were anticipating Lakeside Hoops this year, we apologize for the pause, but don’t worry, we’ll be back! This year, we’re bringing something new to our sickle cell warriors, families and community: Sickle Scars: […]

It wasn’t long after his birth that Emmanuel Boakye’s parents knew something was very wrong with their little boy.    “I would cry to the point where the neighbours would come knocking,” says Emmanuel, who grew up in Richmond Hill, Ont. “When I was 18 months old, my fingers and toes got swollen and they […]

My name is Emmanuel Boakye. I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia at the age of 3 months. My parents, young Ghanaian immigrants seeking a better life, had traveled to Canada, a country renowned for its top-notch healthcare system. I’ve lived in and out of hospitals, repeatedly overcoming my Sickle Cell battles. On March 4, […]

My journey with sickle cell disease began when I was just three months old. As the child of Ghanaian immigrants seeking better healthcare in Canada, I grew up in and out of hospitals, continuously battling the challenges of my condition. On March 4, 2019, I faced one of the most severe crises of my life. […]

Emmanuel Boakye knows how serious a sickle cell crisis can be. He nearly died from one. At 28, he was suddenly struck by an excruciating pain in his chest. He lost his ability to walk before falling into a coma. Three weeks later, Emmanuel woke up in Toronto General’s ICU, where the care team saved […]

In March 2019, Emmanuel Boakye was preparing for family trip when he experienced the most severe sickle cell episode of his life. At three months old, he was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited disorder of the red blood cells that disproportionately impacts Black people. Sickle Cell Disease limits the blood’s ability to carry […]