THRIVE 2026

A full-day wellness experience exploring stress, the nervous system, movement, nutrition, restoration & tools to help you THRIVE! THRIVE is a day designed to help you better understand your body, build practical tools for everyday life, and explore what it means to live well beyond a diagnosis. Hosted by HEM Foundation, Inc., THRIVE brings together individuals impacted by sickle cell disease, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community members for a full day of education, experiential learning, wellness, and connection. Living with sickle cell disease and other chronic health conditions affects far more than physical symptoms. Stress, pain, emotional well-being, nutrition, movement, healthcare experiences, relationships, and daily demands can all influence how we feel and function. THRIVE creates space to explore those connections while complementing, not replacing, appropriate medical care. Throughout the day, we’ll explore: • Stress + the nervous system: Understand how your body responds to stress and learn practical ways to support regulation. • Movement + body awareness: Experience yoga, somatic movement, and other accessible ways to reconnect with your body. • Living well with sickle cell: Explore nutrition, lifestyle, pain and self-management, and whole-person strategies that can support health alongside medical care. • Rest + restoration: Experience an extended sound bath meditation and intentional opportunities to slow down and receive. • Connection + community: Learn alongside people who understand the realities of chronic illness, as well as healthcare professionals and community advocates committed to improving whole-person health. THRIVE is designed to be experienced, not simply listened to. You'll have opportunities throughout the day to move, reflect, connect, practice new tools, and identify realistic strategies you can bring home with you. Who is THRIVE for? THRIVE welcomes adults living with sickle cell disease, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and members of the broader community interested in whole-person health and wellness. Come as you are. Leave with greater understanding, practical tools, meaningful connection, and new ways to support your well-being. ✅ REQUIRED BEFORE YOU ARRIVE All participants must complete a Waiver & Release of Liability. Complete in advance for a faster day of check-in! https://forms.gle/B9rAVQ9hJ5WYMwiV8