Kiran Verma, a 38-year-old activist from Delhi, is on a mission—a mission that requires him to walk 21,000 km across India and beyond, all to raise awareness about blood donation. This remarkable journey was ignited by a heartbreaking incident in 2016. Verma, who had always been a voluntary blood donor, received a distress call from a stranger in Chhattisgarh, desperately seeking blood for a low-income family. Without hesitation, Verma donated his blood, believing he was saving a life. But what he learned later shattered his faith in the system and altered his life's path.

The Turning Point

After donating blood, Verma discovered that the blood he had given for free was sold to the family for ₹1,500. To make matters worse, the patient’s wife had resorted to prostitution to pay for her husband’s medical expenses. This cruel reality was a harsh wake-up call for Verma. This incident drove him to quit his job and dedicate his life to the cause of free blood donation, vowing to ensure that no one would ever suffer the same fate.

Simply Blood: A Vision to Save Lives

Verma launched Simply Blood, an Android app and website designed to connect blood donors with those in need. His motto became clear: “Nobody should die waiting for blood; blood should wait to give life.” The app was just the beginning of Verma’s relentless pursuit to make a difference. 

In 2017, Verma donated blood to Mayank, a young boy at AIIMS, whose dream was to become an engineer. Verma captured the moment, taking photos and videos to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. But just two months later, Verma received a call that would further solidify his commitment. Mayank’s father informed him that the boy had passed away due to a lack of platelets. Those photos were the last images of Mayank alive. The loss of this young life, and the realization that timely blood donations could have saved him, drove Verma to take even more drastic measures to promote his cause.

The 21,000 km Mission

On World Blood Donor Day in 2021, Verma began a new journey—a 21,000 km walk that has taken him across 12 states, 169 districts, and even into Bangladesh. His wife supported him on this noble mission. Verma has covered over 12,000 km on foot so far, overcoming daily challenges like finding food and shelter. “I’ve slept in 5-star hotels and on railway platforms,” Verma recalled. 

Throughout his journey, Verma has inspired over 27,000 people to donate blood, with around 22,000 donations occurring at organized blood donation camps. His outreach extends to remote villages where blood donation was previously unheard of, sparking newfound awareness and action. In one memorable instance, Verma’s efforts led to four people from a notorious area in Nagpur donating blood at a camp, proving that his message was reaching even the most unlikely places.

Verma’s journey has been filled with touching moments that reaffirm his faith in humanity. One such moment occurred in Maharashtra, where a man handed him a 100 rupee note after a talk at a school. Though the amount was small, it was significant because it came from someone with little to give. “Those few bucks were enough to keep my walk going,” Verma shared.

Verma envisions a future where the responsibility of promoting blood donation will be carried forward by others inspired by his journey. “I will give my 200% during this walk, and then I will retire. People will take ownership of this cause, and more like me will step up,” Verma stated.

Whether through donating blood, encouraging others, or simply spreading awareness, each of us can contribute to saving lives. As Verma puts it, “First of all, donate blood. If you can’t donate, encourage others to do so. And if that’s not possible, at least make people aware of the importance of blood donation. Spread the word.”