R&B singer Ruben Studdard learned about sickle cell disease at a young age, when he spent many days with his mother and his choirmates at Birmingham, Alabama's Rising Star Baptist Church at sickle cell awareness and screening events. The Season 2 American Idol winner, whose fourth album 'Love IS' was released earlier this year, is now lending his voice to those efforts as the official spokesman of 'Be Sickle Smart.'
R&B singer Ruben Studdard learned about sickle cell disease at a young age, when he spent many days with his mother and his choirmates at Birmingham, Alabama's Rising Star Baptist Church at sickle cell awareness and screening events. The Season 2 American Idol winner, whose fourth album 'Love IS' was released earlier this year, is now lending his voice to those efforts as the official spokesman of 'Be Sickle Smart.'
'Be Sickle Smart' (BSS) is a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload among people living with sickle cell disease. BSS selected Ruben Studdard's original "I'm A Fighter," produced by John Jackson, as the official campaign theme song.
"I'm A Fighter" is inspired by 'Be Sickle Smart'; Ruben co-wrote it from the perspective of a person infected with sickle cell disease. The soulful song is powerful and poignant and offers this empowering message: " I might get knocked down / but don't count me out / I'm in a title bout / and it's the fight of my life.... / I Will Win."
"I'm A Fighter" Audio Stream
Windows Media Stream: http://bit.ly/Fighter_Windows
Real Player Stream: http://bit.ly/Fighter_RealPlayer
The song is streaming at www.BeSickleSmart.com. Studdard has upcoming performances in six cities called "Empowerment Days" where there will be an iron overload education presentation and free iron overload screenings.
Visit the Be Sickle Smart Website at http://www.besicklesmart.com/:
-To stream "I'm A Fighter"
- For a complete list of all BSS events
- To enroll in the Be Transfusion Smart program and receive additional iron overload information
Ruben Studdard Be Sickle Smart Promotional Tour:
9/19 Memphis, TN*
10/1 Orlando, FL (National SCDAA Gala)*
10/10 Jackson, MS*
10/22 Baton Rouge, LA*
10/24 Raleigh/Durham, NC*
Nov. TBD Austin, TX*
*Visit www.besicklesmart.com for more information about the events and for details on the locations
About Be Sickle Smart:
The Be Sickle Smart (BSS) program is a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload due to blood transfusions among people living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Be Sickle Smart is sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. An important goal of the program is to empower people living with sickle cell to take charge of their health. The program includes a variety of iron overload educational events and iron overload screenings (serum ferritin tests) organized in partnership with local chapters of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) across the United States.
.