A Pint for Kim Breaks Illinois Blood Donation Record with Over 700 Donors

On May 13, 2024, A Pint for Kim, a national grassroots movement, set a new record for the largest single-day, single-location blood, Drive, Breaks, State, Record, Fifth, Year, in Illinois, with over 700 people signing up to donate blood and more than 600 being eligible to donate. The event took place at Naperville North High School, where Kim's two sons attend school.

The annual celebration honors the life of Kimberley Benedyk Sandford, who lost her eight-year battle with a rare cancer in 2020. Kim's husband, Robert Sandford, said, "It is amazing that this event continues to grow year after year to help make Kim's final wish an ongoing reality."

Why this matters: This record-breaking blood, drive, breaks highlights the critical importance of blood donations, particularly for cancer patients who rely heavily on them. By raising awareness and encouraging donations, A Pint for Kim is helping to address a significant public health need and potentially saving countless lives.

Kim suffered from chemo-induced anemia and required more than 40 blood transfusions in her final months. Those donations gave her precious time to spend with her family. Instead of being angry, Kim asked how she could turn her story into a catalyst for positive change, leading to the creation of A Pint for Kim.

The first blood, drive, breaks, state, record, fifth, year, was held in March 2020, just five days after Kim's passing, and broke state records, securing more than 500 pints of blood in a single day. The movement has since grown, with drives held across the country throughout the year, and has secured tens of thousands of pints of blood to date.

A Pint for Kim aims to raise awareness of the importance of blood donations, particularly for cancer patients, who use over 30 percent of donated blood. Kim's sister and co-founder, Kristyn Benedyk, said, "Kim was the most selfless person I knew... A Pint for Kim helps continue on her legacy of helping others."

The organization encourages people to sign up to give blood at their local blood donation center and to visit their website, www.apintforkim.com, for more information on Kim's story and the movement. This year's record-breaking event demonstrates the growing impact of A Pint for Kim as it continues to inspire communities to give the gift of life in honor of Kimberly Sandford.

Key Takeaways

• A Pint for Kim sets new record with over 700 blood donors in one day.
• The event honors Kimberley Benedyk Sandford, who lost her battle with cancer in 2020.
• Blood donations are crucial for cancer patients, who use over 30% of donated blood.
• A Pint for Kim has secured tens of thousands of pints of blood since its inception.
• The organization aims to raise awareness and encourage blood donations nationwide.