At just 24, Lorena Arianne Soares saw her life change drastically. A diagnosis of lymphoma between her lungs came as a shock, and the battle against the disease required not only her strength but also something essential: blood donations.
During her journey toward healing, Lorena learned about the Life for Lives project, organized by Seventh-day Adventist young people in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. For 20 years the initiative has brought together volunteers to donate blood and bone marrow in partnership with a regional organization.
After reaching out, Adventist young people mobilized so that the blood and marrow transfusions to Lorena would take place without hitches. Each transfusion she received was a thread of hope and a bridge to healing, Lorena said. In 2019 she faced a bone marrow transplant and a hope that she had been given a second chance at life.
Today, as Miss Brazil International 2021, Lorena carries a mission in her heart: to encourage blood and bone marrow donation. She is now one of the main supporters of the Adventist-driven project. “It was at that moment that I understood how crucial donation is to save lives,” she said.
Created by young Adventists in 2005, Life for Lives mobilizes volunteers to supply blood centers throughout Brazil and other South American countries. With the support of physician Alessandro Victor, it has become known as one of the largest blood donation movements in South America. Since that first year, the project has carried out advertising campaigns on billboards and TV and radio stations, and even in parades, creating a wave of awareness that, two decades later, has already benefited more than 240,000 people, leaders behind the initiative said.
Regional Challenges
The State of Minas Gerais faces significant challenges in its fight against cancer. According to estimates by the National Cancer Institute (INCA), 78,100 new cases of cancer were expected in the state for each year of the 2023-2025 triennium, placing it as having the second-highest incidence of the disease in Brazil, behind only São Paulo.
Given this scenario, blood donation becomes even more crucial. In 2022 the Hemominas Foundation registered more than 310,000 volunteer donors, resulting in the collection of approximately 259,000 blood bags and the production of more than 687,000 blood components. These numbers are essential to meet the demands of cancer patients, who often require transfusions during treatment, health officials said.
The impact of the Life for Lives initiative hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2006 the World Health Organization recognized it as the largest blood donation mobilization initiative in South America. In 2020 the project was invited by the Hemominas Foundation to represent Brazil in the Ibero-American Cooperative Group of Transfusion Medicine, meeting with representatives from about 20 countries to share experiences and strengthen the cause.
Over the years, partnerships have multiplied. Professional associations, a bank, and several city governments have come together to support the initiative. Recently a sports league from Minas Gerais with more than 15,000 subscribers announced that all soccer teams will have blood donation as a goal, further expanding the reach of the project.
A Life-transforming Commitment
For Alessandro Victor, director of Life for Lives in the region, the mission is clear: “We need to keep our blood banks supplied and create awareness about the importance of always donating, so that no one ever runs out of blood,” he said.
Nivaldo Junior, fundraising advisor at the Hemominas Foundation, highlights the importance of the partnership. “The Life for Lives drive is an inspiring example of how solidarity and teamwork can make a difference. So, thanks to the project, we were able to reach a greater number of donors, ensuring that stocks are always supplied on behalf of those who need it most,” he said.
Lorena’s Invitation
When looking back, Lorena sees her story intertwined with the story of so many others who had their lives saved by a donation. “Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Life for Lives is to celebrate not only the lives saved but also the tireless effort of everyone who is part of this chain to do good,” she said. “I invite everyone to join this cause. Donate blood, share this message, and be part of this story. Because, together, we can save lives!”
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.
