The American Red Cross held a second blood drive during Sickle Cell Awareness Month in Bridgeport Wednesday.

Officials stressed the need for what they describe as diverse donors.

They say 1 in 3 African Americans blood donors are a match for people with sickle cell disease, a red blood disorder.

A single patient with sickle cell disease undergoing gene therapy may night need as many as 50 units for blood and 25 of platelets.

"Sickle cell disease affects every organ in the body. There can be complications in the kidneys, strokes and even challenges in the lungs, and blood is the key to really help mitigate a lot of those changes," says Dr. Cece Calhoun, a hematologist at the Yale School of Medicine.

Click here to find a blood drive.