the why: the blood shortage in america
Miles of Kindness is more than a documentary. It's a movement to inspire blood donation, raise awareness about the blood shortage, and remind people that one act of kindness can save a life.
Throughout the Route 66 journey, the Miles of Kindness duo will partner with local blood centers, hospitals, donors, survivors, and local communities to spotlight stories connected to:
Pediatric cancer
Sickle cell disease
Trauma care challenges
Rural healthcare access
Oncology
Challenges with donation eligibility
These patients use blood products every day.
The film features these critical challenges:
DIVERSE DONORS:
Patients with conditions like sickle cell disease often need closely matched blood, but blood centers struggle to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Increasing donations from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups is critical to improving patient outcomes.
disenfranchised potential donors:
Historical barriers, outdated policies, misinformation, and restrictive eligibility rules have discouraged some individuals from donating blood. Building trust, giving accurate information, and improving access can help engage communities that have traditionally been excluded from blood donation.
lack of young donors:
Blood donations from younger generations have declined significantly in recent years, about 50% in the last 10 years, threatening the long-term stability of the blood supply. Recruiting new, younger donors is essential to sustaining future donation efforts.
Lori and Marie are ALSO driven by these troubling stats:
In recent years, there has been a 50% reduction in donors under the age of 30.
Only about 3% of the eligible population in the U.S. donates blood.
Approximately 60% of blood donations come from people over the age of 40. The donor base is heavily reliant on older adults, with about 45% of donations coming from those older than 50.
Policy issues:
Blood centers face ongoing challenges related to funding, donor recruitment, and public awareness. Many organizations are advocating for policies that expand outreach efforts and strengthen the nation's blood supply infrastructure, while others are fighting against policies that are currently making recruitment harder.
“This project is about reminding people how powerful kindness can be and showing the real lives impacted every day by blood donors. It’s personal for Lori and I.”
Marie Forrestal, Cancer Survivor