Team Blue Shoes

North Dallas Sigmas walk for sickle cell awareness
By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor

Blue skies and blue shoes created a dynamic scene as the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated Omicron Sigma chapter and community members showed up at Bachman Lake in Dallas on Sept. 7 for the 2024 R.R. Walston 5K Walk/Run for sickle cell awareness. Their steps were ordered by a fallen brother admired by many.

“Brother Walston put me in a room where I saw 10 professional, educated Black men, all wearing suits, all, just on top of their game.” Omini Ewah said. “At that time I was 19 years old and I had never seen anything like that, and I told myself, ‘Whatever is associated with that, I need to be a part of that,’ and that was Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.”

Ewah traveled from Boston, Massachusetts to be a part of the 5K named in honor of Reginald Walston who died from complications of sickle cell nine years ago. The bond with his dear mentor goes beyond the brotherhood and he expressed gratefulness for his very own presence at the lake.

“I have sickle cell and in March, I spent about 30 days in the hospital,” Ewah said. “When I left, I couldn’t walk. So, to be out here is a blessing on that front.”

According to May 2024 sickle cell data and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects about 100,000 people in the United States; more than 90% are non-Hispanic Black or African American, and an estimated 3%–9% are Hispanic or Latino.”

At the gathering of many wearing blue and white, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated leadership welcomed attendees, including greetings from Gulf Coast Region Social Action Director Frankie Lloyd. Before the walk/run portion of the event began, Ewah shared details about sickle cell and advances in treatment.

“Sickle cell, if you know or you don’t know, is a hereditary blood disorder,” Ewah said. “It’s genetic, extremely debilitating; it causes you to experience pain because your blood cells are typically supposed to last for about 120 days, but in sickle cell, they only last for about 30 days and they carry about one-third the amount of oxygen that they should. So, you’re chronically fatigued, and the way that your body says ‘I need more oxygen’ is to send pain signals to your brain.”

In its fourth year, the R.R. Walston 5K had many sharing memories of the event’s namesake.The location has varied over the years, however organizers shared that the first one took place at Bachman Lake. The return to the original location was welcomed.

“I’m glad to see it back here and I hope that it will get the legs and the support under it that I feel that it deserves,” fraternity brother and walk originator Ira Hughes said. “I think it’s going to be one of our signature programs in the chapter.”

Hughes shared that sickle cell is one of the international programs of the fraternity. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated announced their partnership with Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) on July 6, 2018. Chapters throughout their organization have held numerous events throughout the years in support of this effort. While having one of their esteemed members succumb to complications from the illness was tragic, for the Omicron Sigma chapter, naming their event R.R. Walston seemed to be a fitting tribute for what he stood for.

“He was very active, big on health and this was the perfect way for us to say, ‘We want to honor him and just make sure that his name lives on,’” Damon Sayles, event co-chair and Director of Social Action for Omicron Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated (North Dallas Sigmas) said.

With over 50 pre-registered for this walk and 20 to 30 extra persons expected to show up, the event paves the way for remembrance and an active lifestyle.

“It’s always a good health initiative and people love to walk, they love to run, but I think a lot of it involves just who Reggie is,” Sayles said. “It explains the type of character person that he was. For those who don’t know, Reggie was a gentleman who loved Phi Beta Sigma, loved North Carolina A&T, he loved business, and he loved mentoring.”

The love for Reggie was consistently poured out of each fraternity brother who spoke with Texas Metro News during the event. At every turn was someone who was impacted by his love, leadership and work ethic.

“He was a guy who loved Phi Beta Sigma. He was a guy who loved his university. He was a guy who loved people,” Chase Jackson, event co-chair and Omicron Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated (North Dallas Sigmas) Director of Bigger and Better Business said. “But most importantly, he was a guy who just loved getting things done, and he loved to make sure that we as his mentees got things done.”

From assisting their sorority sisters, members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated with registration, working a voter registration table, manning water stations and ensuring attendees were okay, the fraternity brothers got things done. Radio station representatives from 97.9 The Beat were on hand with giveaways at a table as well. Music was playing and the sun was shining. It was a day of cooperation, and not just the weather, for the betterment of the community. The North Dallas Sigmas are very active, and this walk/run event is one of many.

“One thing about the Omicron Sigma chapter is that we are always moving to the next project,” Omicron Sigma chapter president Eric Hill said. He then solicited participation for their November golf classic. In the R.R. Walston fashion of “getting things done,” they also have a karaoke event scheduled on December 14 which they are hosting with the Phi Psi Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. In serving, collaboration is key.

Jasmine Ervin, Miss Texas 2024 of The Ultimate Pageant System, was present for the walk/run along with her fur baby, a friendly apricot toy poodle.

“I’m also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and so super excited to be out here supporting our brothers of Phi Beta Sigma,” Ervin said. “It’s important to support our fraternal organizations, our sister organizations, to know that whether or not we have different colors, different symbols, we’re all a part of the same council. We’re all brothers, we’re all sisters in this.” 

Handout materials on sickle cell awareness were available as participants checked in and retrieved their shirts. After a countdown, the crowd was in motion, walking the trail surrounding the lake.

“We want individuals to come out and have a good time, but also walk away with something of importance,” Jackson said.

From fraternity members, sorority members, supporters and four-legged friends, honoring the legacy of Reginald Walston was paramount and woven into awareness of the condition that propelled him to a revered ancestor.

“We’re going to do our part just to make certain that everybody understands that we’re serious about Sickle Cell, that we’re serious about good health and it also helps that this is a fun time for everybody,” Sayles said.

The R.R. Walston 5K Run/Walk is so much more than feet to pavement. It cements legacy, fortifying the bond of brotherhood working together to support areas of need.