SCD Soldier Network, Inc.

The SCD Soldier Network is the brain child of AGASCA, which is an online facebook support page. We are in the formation stages of becoming a national registry of volunteers who support those affected by Sickle Cell Disease.  We intend to tour several major cities, promoting the network during National Volunteer Month in April of 2010. We will be setting up recruiting stations from April -August in various cities. We are also planning on attending the annual conference of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in September 2010.  We are currently providing advocacy and outreach services through request from members of the online support group. Our campaign is surrounded by the idea of giving those with Sickle Cell Disease a bigger voice and a support system that improves their quality of life . One of our campaigns is "Will Sickle Cell Get Its Grown-Up Voice". The premise behind this campaign is that after 100 years of its discovery we are still represented by a poster child.  We love our poster child, however its time that people realize that our poster children are now living long enough to experience adulthood. The Founder of SCD Soldier Network has the disease and is committed to making sure that adults with the blood disorder are provided with a voice that is loud enough to be heard, so that issues that they face are not ignored. They need to be addressed by government, the medical community and the social services arena.

By working with established organizations that serve the Sickle Cell Community, we will be able to provide support to everyone who battles the disease and are in need of a support system.

Gathering input from the people living with the disease is our strategy for providing a network that is actually driven by the people that we serve.

Our Founder

Phyllis Zachery-Thomas is the Creator of AGASCA the online support page on facebook and the Founder & President of SCD Soldier Network.  She currently lives in the Atlanta metro area of GA. She has written a song that will serve as an anthem for the Soldier Network.  It is a song of support and will be used to ignite the people who are interested in becoming soldiers. She is also working on the production of a CD that will help bring awareness of the issues surrounding those who battle the disorder. She is planning on writing at least 75% of the lyrics to be used on the CD. The proceeds from the sale of both the anthem and the proposed CD project will be donated to the SCD Soldier Network.

As a Patient Advocate she has experience working with medical personnel and is available to speak to groups in an effort to educate them about the affects of Sickle Cell Disease and the need for the SCD Soldier Network.

Phyllis Zachery-Thomas aka przthomas is a blogger and is providing regular updates of her progress in creating this network through a VideoBlog being hosted by Dallas Austin at 8dazeaweakend.  Her post are titled "Will Sickle Cell Get It's Grown-Up Voice". The videoblog can also be found on youtube.

Who We Are

The SCD Soldier Network is comprised of people with SCD, family members, medical professionals and others who support the idea of bringing greater awareness of Sickle Cell Disease.  We are advocates who educate, counsel, support and care for those who are in need of assistance. We are the adult face and voice of sickle cell disease. Our Front-Line Soldiers are in the trenches doing the hands-on advocacy work.

We are an army of people who are going from the Church House to the White House telling the nation that we exist and we are making sure that our community is cared for.

Where there is ignorance, we educate. Where there is injustice, we tip the scales. Where there is confusion, we clarify.     Where there is pain, we pray because we believe that God is able to turn our weeping into joy.

We are attempting something that has never been done before and we are encourging those with SCD to speak up and stop fighting this disease alone.  We are bringing support to the families of these indivduals and telling the nation about our plight.  If we are needed, we will come from everywhere!