Two siblings, Charming and Zenith Seyi-Abiodun, from Gorton are on a mission to encourage more people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage to become blood donors - due to a very personal reason.
Charming, 17, was diagnosed with sickle cell at birth. The inherited blood disorder is more common in black people, can cause organ failure, stroke or loss of vision, and can be fatal. Charming had his first painful episode, known as a crisis, when he was 22 months old suffering with swollen legs and arms.
Aged five he started having more crises and doctors were concerned about his increasing risk of a stroke. He started blood transfusions at seven years old and now has red cell exchanges every month receiving 1.5 to two pints of ethnically matched blood. The student, who is studying for a BTEC in Engineering at Hopwood Hall College in Middleton needs these regular transfusions simply to stay alive.
