Who We Are
Gideon's Treasure is a nonprofit Sickle Cell awareness foundation created by Fashion Designer of DUMEBI and Sickle Cell Warrior Barbara Biosah. In loving Memory of Mr Gideons Ekwuabu & Mrs Susan Treasure
Our Goal is to raise awareness for Sickle Cell Anaemia through Fashion shows, events & Galas.. We also aim to educate and help sufferers find hope through the pain with Art & fashion workshops Sponsored by DUMEBI
What is Sickle Cell?
Sickle cell Anaemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. Normally, the flexible, round red blood cells move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anaemia, the red blood are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These rigid, sticky cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body.
This can cause complications such as organ damage is some patients
- Sickle Cell mostly affects people from African, Caribbean backgrounds
- Approximately 250 million people worldwide carry the gene responsible for sickle cell disease and other haemoglobin diseases, this is known as Sickle Cell trait.
- - 1 in 79 babies born in the UK carry sickle cell trait, if two people with sickle cell trait have a baby there is a 1 in 4 chance that their child will be born with Sickle Cell disease.
- - Approximately 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.
- - Almost 300 babies are born in the UK with sickle cell each year.
- - Severe pain crisis
- - Increased risk of infections
- - Reduced life expectancy and Organ damage that can lead to untimely death.
- Many people who suffer from this condition may experience many struggles from day to day activities to school and work life and can sometimes feel they are limited/restricted and cannot live a full healthy life.
Mr Gideon Ekwuabu
Mr. Gideon Ekwuabu was a Sickle Cell Warrior,
beloved Uncle, Brother, Friend and Son.
Born in Nigeria he was the youngest of 12 siblings and was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anaemia at a young age.
For his 10th birthday his older sister Joyce, who was living in London at the time, brought him to the UK as a vacation. Whilst in the UK he met a Haemotology Doctor who advised him to stay in the UK so he could receive better treatment for his condition.
Despite the severity of his condition, he completed his GCSEs at Aylward Academy and graduated at University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield.
For most of his life he was surrounded by his siblings, nieces and nephews who loved him very much and he lived his life to the fullest. Gideon Ekwuabu loved Duai, Thailand, China, South Korea and India were some of many destinations he visited.
He was full of life, funny, hardworking, ambitious and loved by everyone around him including his church community.
Unfortunately he lost his battle to Sickle Cell in 2011 at the young age of 38 due to complications with his Lungs from bad medication and treatment. His passing was devastating and could have been prevented if better care and treatment was given for people with his condition.
Mrs Susan Treasure
Mrs. Susan Treasure was a Sickle Cell Activist and founder of Enfield Sickle Cell support group- A support group Barbara attended when she was a teenager.
Treasure dedicated her time and effort to spreading awareness and supporting people with sickle cell, although she nor any of her relatives had Sickle Cell Anaemia she was passionate about making a difference and helping sufferers through educating the community with outreaches, fundraisers and local support groups
Fundraising & Raising Awareness
Our goal is to honour them and to provide resources and opportunities for people living with Sickle Cell so they can feel less isolated, build a community, learn a skill and have a bright future.
Barbaras Journey with Sickle Cell
Born and raised in London, UK of Nigerian Parents, Barbara was diagnosed with Sickle cell Anaemia when she was 4 years old.
Many people who suffer from this condition may believe they are limited and cannot live a full healthy life due to the complications that can occur including pain crisis, Organ damage etc
From Barbaras personal journey with Sickle Cell and knowing how isolating and debilitating the condition is, she believes that her creativity and passion for fashion played and continues to play a huge role in the recovery and management of her Sickle Cell, especially in a mental capacity - as we all know your mental well-being does have an effect your physical health, having something exciting that you love doing and to look forward to makes a huge impact.
This is the kind of support system we aim to create with Gideon's Treasure , Barbara used her passion to overcome her pain. And you can too