Heal Sickle Cell Through Creativity
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We are proud to launch the first crowdfunding for Akanji Studio Wellness CIC, the social impact arm of Akanji Studio, with our latest exhibition at Boxpark Shoreditch & Croydon.
Why We Exist
Sickle cell disorder is the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK. Yet it remains one of the most overlooked, underfunded, and stigmatised. Too often, those living with the condition are invisible in culture and unsupported in care. Akanji Studio Wellness CIC exists to change that.
We use art as a weapon: to heal, to amplify, and to push for systemic awareness.

Akanji Studio Wellness Approach
Through our work, we:
- Deliver digital art therapy workshops that give sickle cell warriors tools to transform pain into creativity
- Stage public exhibitions that raise awareness, break stigma, and spark empathy across society
- Collaborate with the NHS to drive blood donation campaigns, linking art to action and saving lives
- Create creative wellness packs for children, giving young people hope and support through art
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Run online campaigns that amplify sickle cell voices and ensure this community is seen, heard, and valued
Proof in Action
Our exhibition at Boxpark proves what’s possible. Thousands of visitors walked through, many for the first time confronted with the realities of sickle cell. People stopped, asked questions, felt the weight of the stories. Many took the step to sign up as blood donors.
This is what visual representation does. It doesn’t just decorate walls, it moves people to act.

Why We Need Your Support
These projects are powerful, but they are not cheap. Our last 3-day exhibition cost and estimated £4,000 to deliver (before venue hire). Workshops, materials, logistics, and campaigns all take resources to sustain.
That’s why we’ve launched our first GoFundMe campaign. With your support we can:
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Exhibitions that break stigma, educate wider communities about sickle cell, and inspire blood donors, creating awareness, representation, and direct impact for patients who depend on transfusions
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Free art therapy workshops that help patients process pain, reduce isolation, and rebuild confidence, giving young people and adults a safe space to express what hospitals and medication can’t always reach
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Deliver wellness packs for young warriors
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Expand our online campaigns to break stigma and build empathy in society
Join Us
Your contribution fuels more than art. It fuels healing, awareness, and life-saving action.
Together, we can make sickle cell visible. Together, we can transform pain into power.
