At the age of 24, Lorena Arianne Soares saw her life change drastically. The diagnosis of lymphoma between the lungs came as a shock, and the battle against the disease required not only strength from her, but also something essential: blood donations.
During her journey towards a cure, Lorena learned about the Vida por Vidas (Life for Lives) project , organized by young Adventists from the center of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The initiative brings together volunteers to donate blood and bone marrow in partnership with Hemominas for 20 years.
After being a blood donor, the beauty queen began needing donations and found support in the initiative. The young people mobilized to ensure that Lorena's blood and bone marrow transfusions occurred without any difficulties. The volunteers' blood collection, a simple act that took less than ten minutes, allowed her to enjoy the rest of her life in good health.
Each transfusion she received was a ray of hope, a bridge to a cure. In 2019, she underwent a bone marrow transplant and, with it, the certainty that the solidarity of strangers had given her a second chance.
Today, as Miss Brazil International 2021, Lorena has a mission in her heart: to encourage blood and bone marrow donation.
"It was at that moment that I understood how crucial donation is to saving lives," she says.
Created by young Adventists in 2005, the initiative mobilizes volunteers to supply blood banks throughout Brazil and other South American countries. With the support of Dr. Alessandro Victor, it has become one of the largest blood donation movements in South America. Since its first year, the project has carried out campaigns on billboards, TV, radio, and even marches, creating a wave of awareness that, two decades later, has already benefited more than 240,000 people.
Blood Donation in Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais faces significant challenges in the fight against cancer. According to estimates from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), 78,100 new cases of cancer are expected in the state for each year of the 2023-2025 triennium, placing it as the second with the highest incidence of the disease in the country, behind only São Paulo.
Given this scenario, blood donation becomes even more crucial. In 2022, the Hemominas Foundation registered more than 310,000 voluntary donors, resulting in the collection of approximately 259,000 blood bags and the production of more than 687,000 blood components. Therefore, these numbers are essential to meet the demands of cancer patients, who frequently require transfusions during treatment.
From Minas to the World
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Vida por Vidas as the largest blood donation mobilization initiative in South America. In 2020, the Hemominas Foundation invited the project to represent Brazil in the Ibero-American Cooperative Group for Transfusion Medicine (GCIAMT), meeting with representatives from around 20 countries to share experiences and strengthen the cause.
Over the years, partnerships have multiplied. The Brazilian Bar Association - Minas Gerais Section (OAB MG), the Banco do Brasil Athletic Association (AABB) in Betim, and even city governments such as Betim, Igarapé, and Contagem have joined the initiative. Recently, a Minas Gerais sports league with over 15,000 members announced that all of its football teams will have a goal of donating blood, further expanding the project's reach.
A Commitment that Transforms
For Dr. Alessandro Victor, director of Vida por Vidas in the region, the mission is clear.
"We need to keep our blood banks stocked and raise awareness about the importance of always donating, so that no one ever runs out of blood," he argues.
His work is a link between donors, blood banks and patients, showing that small gestures of solidarity can change destinies.
Nivaldo Junior, fundraising advisor at the Hemominas Foundation, highlights the importance of the partnership.
"The mobilization carried out by Vida por Vidas is an inspiring example of how solidarity and teamwork can make a difference. Thanks to the project, we were able to reach a greater number of donors, ensuring that stocks are always full for those who need them most," he points out.
Lorena's Invitation
Looking back, Lorena sees her story intertwined with that of so many others whose lives were saved by a donation.
"Celebrating 20 years of Vida por Vidas is celebrating not only the lives saved, but also the tireless efforts of everyone who is part of this chain of goodness. So I invite everyone to join this cause. Donate blood, share this message and be part of this story. Because, together, we can save lives!", she believes.
The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.
