As One Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by retired NFL star Devard Darling in memory of the sickle cell-related death of his identical twin brother, Devaughn, hosted its 6th Annual Darling Dash 5k on Feb. 21 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
Beloved Florida State Seminole and Rhodes Scholar, Myron Rolle, was in attendance to support the cause.
“It’s not every day you meet a young man like Devaughn. He was more than just a beast on the field. He was a friend to everyone he met and I miss him,” said Devard Darling, founder, As One Foundation.
“There’s not one day that I don’t think about my brother. I look forward to bringing the same amount of joy and energy to the 5k as Devaughn brought into my life.”
The 2016 Darling Dash marked the 15th anniversary of when Devaughn Darling lost his life at 18 due to exhaustion and dehydration during football practice at Florida State University. Both Darling brothers carry the sickle cell trait, which can be fatal when paired with physical rigor and lack of hydration.
The 5k aims to raise awareness about the sickle cell trait and fund As One Foundation’s Operation Hydration program to prevent sports related deaths by encouraging hydration, especially in sickle cell trait carriers. Operation Hydration is a training program to educate student athletes, coaches and related staff. Proceeds will also go to the foundation’s scholarship program.
“I know how terrible it feels to lose someone you love and it pains me that my brother’s death could’ve easily been prevented if we were more informed about sickle cell,” Darling said. “My goal is that the As One Foundation will prevent tragedies like this from happening through awareness and support.”
According to the American Football Coaches Association, sickle cell related deaths are the leading cause of collegiate football players’ deaths in recent history. While the CDC estimates that 90,000 to 100,000 Americans are affected by sickle cell, deaths related to sickle cell trait and dehydration are preventable.