Melodies of Love for Sickle Cell 2026 will take place Saturday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Emerald Coast Venue in Fort Walton Beach. A portion of the proceeds will benefit We Reign Sickle Cell Corporation.
- The organization is led by Allison Morris, who founded We Reign Sickle Cell Corporation after her daughter was diagnosed with sickle cell hemoglobin SC disease. Morris’s daughter, now 10 years old, has been hospitalized over 30 times for sickle cell related complications.
Morris is a carrier of type C trait, and her daughter inherited the S trait from her father and C trait from Morris.
“Melodies of Love is about more than entertainment,” Morris said. “It’s about creating space for community, celebrating love in all its forms, and supporting a cause that impacts families right here in our region.”
We Reign Sickle Cell Corporation is dedicated to advocacy, education and community support for individuals living with sickle cell disease. Morris wants to ensure younger people know their status for genetic disorders so they can plan their families accordingly.
The organization is working with legislators to get bills passed furthering education for healthcare professionals. We Reign Sickle Cell Corporation finds it too common that emergency room doctors and nurses don’t have much knowledge about sickle cell even though it is one of the most common genetic disorders in the world.
The event transitions from family-friendly daytime activities to an evening concert atmosphere. Classic R&B national recording artist Omar Wilson will headline the evening concert, with additional performances by local and regional talent Keydo Starr, Kuh-LEE-UH and smooth jazz band MoD’Vyne.
- JAM of RWRLIVE365 will host the event, and DJ Mike Ice will provide music throughout the day and night.
Daytime activities include an indoor expo featuring local artisans, small businesses and nonprofit organizations. A karaoke competition will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for kids and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for adults.
