Adeniyi Sodiq Omisore, age 24, was a beloved member of our organization, a young man actively involved in the community and with dreams and ambitions (to become a researcher to find a viable cure to conquer sickle cell disease) that have been brutally cut short.
From a young age, Adeniyi was involved in sickle cell disease advocacy, attending multiple advocacy days at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park.
He shared his lived experience with sickle cell disease and delivered a moving speech during National Advocacy Day in 2017 that was instrumental to the passing of Bill S-211, which recognizes June 19th as National Sickle Cell Awareness Day
His tragic death highlights that although much progress has been made, Canada and the province of Ontario in particular (with the largest number of affected individuals in the country) still have a long way to go when it comes to eradicating the suffering and pain that sickle Cell Disease inflicts on families.