Lea’s path to becoming a transformative figure in SCD advocacy started during her third year at university with the 10003 Warrior Project. This initiative was far more than a school assignment—it was a groundbreaking effort to document and share the personal stories of 400 Kenyans living with SCD. Through this project, Lea encountered the harsh realities of the disease: limited access to medical care, social stigma, and the isolation faced by patients, particularly in rural areas. These stories didn’t just inform her—they ignited a passion to act. The project became the foundation of her lifelong mission, pushing her to address the systemic challenges she uncovered.

Inspired by the 10003 Warrior Project, Lea took a bold step in 2018 by founding the Africa Sickle Cell Organisation (ASCO). Her vision was clear: to save sickle cell lives in rural Africa, where SCD often goes undiagnosed and untreated due to resource scarcity. ASCO wasn’t just an organization—it was a direct response to the inequities she’d witnessed firsthand. She aimed to bridge the gap between rural communities and the healthcare systems that often overlooked them, building a network of support that included medical professionals, local leaders, and affected families. This marked the beginning of her decade-long commitment to health equity.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Lea didn’t settle into a conventional career. Instead, she dove headfirst into advocacy, splitting her time between grassroots efforts in rural villages and high-level discussions in influential circles. She spoke at community gatherings, educated families about SCD, and lobbied policymakers for better resources. A defining moment came when she chose to return to her ancestral home in rural Africa. This wasn’t just a homecoming—it was a deliberate move to immerse herself in the lived experiences of SCD patients. By reconnecting with her roots, she gained a profound understanding of the cultural, social, and economic barriers they faced, which shaped her approach to advocacy.

From her experiences, Lea identified three critical pillars to help SCD patients not just survive, but thrive:

1. Affordable, Accessible Care: She recognized that many rural patients lacked basic medical resources—hospitals were too far, medications too expensive, and doctors too few. ASCO began initiatives to bring mobile clinics, affordable drugs, and trained healthcare workers to these underserved areas.
2. Addressing Social Challenges: SCD affects more than just the body—it strains families, limits education, and isolates individuals due to stigma. Lea worked to create support systems, including counseling for caregivers and awareness campaigns to reduce discrimination.
3. Advocacy at All Levels: She understood that lasting change required amplifying patients’ voices. Whether speaking to village elders or international health organizations, Lea pushed for policies and funding to prioritize SCD care.

These pillars became the backbone of ASCO’s mission and a blueprint for her innovative approach to tackling the disease.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Lea didn’t settle into a conventional career. Instead, she dove headfirst into advocacy, splitting her time between grassroots efforts in rural villages and high-level discussions in influential circles. She spoke at community gatherings, educated families about SCD, and lobbied policymakers for better resources. A defining moment came when she chose to return to her ancestral home in rural Africa. This wasn’t just a homecoming—it was a deliberate move to immerse herself in the lived experiences of SCD patients. By reconnecting with her roots, she gained a profound understanding of the cultural, social, and economic barriers they faced, which shaped her approach to advocacy.

Over the past ten years, Lea has transformed SCD care in rural Africa. Through ASCO, she’s introduced pioneering programs like community health worker training, partnerships with local governments for subsidized treatments, and youth education initiatives to foster early diagnosis. Her ability to connect people—patients with providers, rural leaders with urban policymakers—has created a collaborative ecosystem that’s rare in global health. Her work has not only saved lives but also inspired a broader movement for health equity across the continent.