(BATON ROUGE, LA) — The Louisiana Hemophilia Foundation (LHF) announces the appointment of Benjamin Hicks Jr. as outreach coordinator. Hicks, who lives with severe hemophilia A, brings both personal experience and a passionate vision for community engagement to this vital role.

"I feel inspired to help the bleeding disorders community," said Hicks, 24, whose connection with LHF began as a young camper. "LHF represents hope and provides a place where people can find others who understand what they're going through and can point them toward the help they need."

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Hicks' own journey exemplifies the transformative power of community support. At age 12, he attended his first hemophilia camp, where a pivotal moment occurred. "I did my first self-infusion at camp," Hicks recalled. "It was either do it or go to the hospital. That experience changed everything – I left camp able to do infusions independently, and I still keep the 'Big Stick Award' they gave me that day."

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In his new role, Hicks will focus on engaging younger community members and empowering them to become active advocates. "The older generation won't always be here," Hicks emphasized. "We need the younger generation to push this organization forward. I want them to know their stories matter and their voices can change things. When I first shared my story, it changed my life because I felt like I mattered."

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LHF Director Danielle Rowley said, "We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Hicks as our new outreach coordinator. Hicks brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to this role, having lived with hemophilia his entire life and being an active community member. His firsthand experience and long-standing involvement with LHF make him invaluable in leading all our outreach events. We look forward to the energy and dedication he will bring to enhancing our community, engagement, education, and support initiatives."

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Hicks also emphasizes the importance of supporting caregivers, drawing from his personal experience. "No one focuses on caregivers, but it's hard – my mom struggled," he shared. "Having a community where caregivers can connect with others who understand their challenges is crucial."