Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us travel throughout
the world speaking to Military Soldiers.
WHY THIS MISSION IS PERSONAL
I Return to the Place Where I Collapsed
My Sickle Cell Trait advocacy is not simply based on something I studied.
It is part of my life.
During my military career, I experienced exertional rhabdomyolysis during physical training at Camp Roberts, California.
That experience became part of the reason I began educating others about Sickle Cell Trait, strenuous physical exertion, rhabdomyolysis and the importance of understanding how our individual bodies may respond under stress.
Today, I have the opportunity to return to military communities and use what happened to me as an educational vehicle.
My story opens the conversation.
Education gives people information.
THE MISSION
Sickle Cell Trait & Rhabdomyolysis Awareness Initiative
Our goal is to provide education that helps individuals:
KNOW WHAT THEY CARRY
Understand Sickle Cell Trait, inheritance and the importance of knowing their hemoglobin status.
KNOW HOW THEIR BODY MAY RESPOND
Understand that strenuous exertion, environmental conditions, illness and other individual factors can matter during intense physical activity.
RECOGNIZE RHABDOMYOLYSIS
Increase awareness about exertional rhabdomyolysis and why early recognition matters.
ASK BETTER QUESTIONS
Encourage athletes, service members, families, coaches and professionals to have informed conversations with appropriate healthcare and training professionals.
MAKE INFORMED CHOICES
Use knowledge—not fear—to make better-informed decisions concerning health, athletics, military training and family.
WHAT YOUR SUPPORT MAKES POSSIBLE
Your support helps WHATZ DA COUNT deliver educational programs to military installations, schools, athletic programs and communities.
Partner support may help cover:
- Educational presentations
- Program preparation
- Educational materials
- Travel
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Ground transportation
- Community outreach
- Media documentation
- Radio programming
- Follow-up education
- Program evaluation
- Awareness campaign operations
You are not simply paying for someone to travel.
You are helping make education accessible to a community.
BECOME A $2,500 COMMUNITY PARTNER
UNDERWRITE ONE EDUCATION ACTIVATION
A $2,500 Community Partnership helps make one local Sickle Cell Trait and rhabdomyolysis education activation possible.
An activation may serve a:
● Military community
● High school
● College
● Athletic department
● ROTC program
● Recruiting Sustainment Program
● Youth sports organization
● Community organization
A COMMUNITY ACTIVATION MAY INCLUDE
● Sickle Cell Trait & rhabdomyolysis educational presentation
● Lived-experience presentation
● Student or athlete education
● Coach and staff education
● Question-and-answer session
● Educational resources
● Community outreach
● Participant feedback
● Media coverage or follow-up when appropriate
COMMUNITY PARTNER BENEFITS
Community Partners are helping deliver education while receiving recognition through the independent media platforms connected to our campaign.
Depending on the partnership, recognition may include:
● Community Partner designation
● Recognition on WDConSCT.org
● Social media recognition
● On-air acknowledgment
● Commercial advertising opportunities on our radio programming
● KCAA Radio commercial opportunities
● MBRadio commercial opportunities
● Community interview opportunities when appropriate
● Campaign recognition
● Post-activation impact recap
IMPORTANT
Commercial recognition through our independent media platforms is separate from any military installation, school district or other host organization’s endorsement.
Any recognition occurring directly at a host location is subject to that organization’s policies and approval.
HOW THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WORKS
1. WE IDENTIFY A HOST COMMUNITY
A school, athletic program, military organization, ROTC program or community organization expresses interest in receiving the education.
2. A COMMUNITY PARTNER UNDERWRITES THE ACTIVATION
A business, hospital, credit union, medical practice, foundation, civic organization or community partner provides funding.
3. WHATZ DA COUNT DELIVERS THE PROGRAM
We provide the Sickle Cell Trait and rhabdomyolysis education.
4. WE DOCUMENT THE IMPACT
We track who was reached, what type of audience participated and what educational activity was delivered.
5. WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Our radio, media and community platforms can help keep the awareness conversation going after the presentation ends.
WHO CAN BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER?
We welcome conversations with:
HEALTHCARE
● Hospitals
● Health systems
● Medical groups
● Sports medicine practices
● Healthcare organizations
FINANCIAL & BUSINESS COMMUNITY
● Credit unions
● Banks
● Local businesses
● Corporate partners
● Chamber of Commerce members
● Veteran-owned businesses
COMMUNITY
● Rotary Clubs
● Community foundations
● Civic organizations
● Faith-based organizations
● Youth-serving organizations
SPORTS
● Sports organizations
● Athletic programs
● Sports-related businesses
● Fitness and wellness organizations
WANT TO SPONSOR A MILITARY COMMUNITY?
HELP US TAKE THE EDUCATION TO THOSE WHO TRAIN AND SERVE
Military service has a personal connection to this campaign.
As a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, I understand the culture of physical training, mission readiness, leadership and service.
My own exertional rhabdomyolysis experience occurred during military physical training.
Today, one part of this mission is taking that lived experience back into military environments as an opportunity for education.
A Military Community Partner can help support:
● Travel to an approved military education opportunity
● Lodging
● Ground transportation
● Educational resources
● Program preparation
● Media documentation outside the installation
● Continued SCT and rhabdomyolysis awareness
Military participation or access does not imply Department of Defense or military endorsement of WHATZ DA COUNT or any private sponsor.
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS
120 PEOPLE. $50 A YEAR. ONE MISSION.
Businesses are not the only ones who can help.
Individuals can participate in this mission too.
Our goal is to build a community of supporters who believe that people deserve access to information about Sickle Cell Trait, strenuous physical activity and rhabdomyolysis.
$50 ANNUAL SUPPORTER
Your annual contribution can help with:
● Educational materials
● Travel expenses
● Outreach
● Program operations
● Awareness activities
Whether you contribute $50, $100 or another amount, you become part of helping us carry the message farther.
BUSINESS & ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS
READY TO UNDERWRITE AN ACTIVATION?
$2,500 — COMMUNITY PARTNER
Supports one education activation.
$5,000 — CITY PARTNER
Supports multiple education and community-engagement opportunities within a city or local area.
$10,000–$25,000 — REGIONAL PARTNER
Supports multiple schools, military communities, athletic programs or organizations across a region.
$50,000+ — NATIONAL TOUR PARTNER
Helps expand Sickle Cell Trait and rhabdomyolysis education across multiple states and communities.
WHAT DOES AN ACTIVATION LOOK LIKE?
ONE COMMUNITY. MULTIPLE POINTS OF IMPACT.
A sponsored visit could include:
MORNING
Professional education with coaches, athletic directors, educators, staff or leadership.
MIDDAY
Student-athlete, service member or community presentation.
AFTERNOON
Questions, conversation and resource sharing.
MEDIA
Community interviews, radio conversations or campaign documentation where appropriate.
FOLLOW-UP
Impact summary provided to partners showing what their support helped accomplish.
WE MEASURE THE WORK
As the campaign expands, we will track:
● Number of presentations
● Number of participants
● Students reached
● Athletes reached
● Service members reached
● Coaches and educators reached
● Organizations reached
● Cities reached
● States reached
● Community partners
● Participant feedback
● Media conversations generated
Our goal is not simply to say that we traveled.
Our goal is to show who was educated because partners made the work possible.
PARTNER WITH WHATZ DA COUNT
HELP US TAKE THE CONVERSATION WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
Know What You Carry.
Know How Your Body Responds.
Make an Informed Choice.
*DONATE
*BECOME A $2,500 COMMUNITY PARTNER
*SPONSOR A MILITARY EDUCATION ACTIVATION
*INVITE US TO YOUR SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION
*CONTACT US