TUCSON, Ariz. On September 29, the American Red Cross Southern Arizona, the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona and the Arizona Achievers Foundation filled The Loft Cinema to screen Iconic Excellence: The Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew. Today, The Force for Health® Network is extending the ripples of that night with the Iconic Excellence Challenge, a new module in our Reality Health Games series that gamifies the key takeaways and knowledge points from the film and the conversation it started.
The screening brought together the film's real archival footage, Dr. Drew's family telling his story in their own words, featured speaker Dr. Yvette Miller, and voices from across Southern Arizona. The challenge makes sure that what was shared in the theater keeps teaching long after the credits rolled.
What we gamified: the six knowledge points
Every takeaway from the night now lives inside a game, a check or a challenge, so people don't just hear it once. They practice it, prove it and share it.
Born in 1904, Banked Blood at Columbia, Blood for Britain, first medical director of the Red Cross Blood Program in 1941, the bloodmobile, and the surgeons he trained at Howard.
🎮 Gamified in: 10 Facts · Timeline game →The film and the Tucson conversation tackled stories that aren't supported by the record, including the claim he was refused care after his accident.
🎮 Gamified in: Myth or Fact? game →Many people with sickle cell depend on regular transfusions, and the closest match most often comes from a donor with a similar background.
🎮 Gamified in: Sickle Cell stop · Knowledge Checks →Not red cells, but platelets and plasma, which sickle cell patients need too. Dr. Yvette Miller made this clear at The Loft.
🎮 Gamified in: Event Knowledge Check →Speakers named the community's well-founded mistrust and said trusted partners, family and friends are how education lands.
🎮 Gamified in: Quote Bank · Speaker Gallery →The night ended with a plan, not just applause.
🎮 Gamified in: Drew Pledge · Give-blood reminder →Inside the module
14 stops, 300 LEARN It Coins and the Iconic Excellence Badge, with a Coach Lucy welcome, the film, three games, the song and a bingo card.
📖The Interactive eBookA 24-page flip book where the film, games, song and Tucson voices play right on the page.
🎧It's in the Blood · Listening LabAn original song in nine genres, with lyrics and Game Mode.
🎬Tucson Event RecapsEight clips, a Quote Bank, a Speaker Gallery and In Case You Missed It, every quote a tap from the exact second.
✅5- and 10-Point Knowledge ChecksQuestions drawn straight from what the speakers said.
💬The Impact & Legacy WallPledges and reflections from everyone carrying the story forward.
Honoring our community partners
This challenge is inspired by and dedicated to the partners who brought this story to Southern Arizona.
Presenting partner. With Executive Director Courtney Slanacker, featured speaker Dr. Yvette Miller, board member Dr. Aja Murphy, Crystal Jackson, Karen Fontes and Beth Marie Miller.
Presenting partner. Congratulations to Moses Akpan, honored with the 2026 Sickle Cell Champion Award, and thank you to Sickle Cell Warrior Akilah Gilbert.
Presenting partner, represented by Samuel Ross, who also serves on the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona Advisory Council.
With community voices from the NAACP Tucson Branch and Rising Star Baptist Church of Tucson, and gratitude to The Loft Cinema for hosting.
Dr. Drew didn't leave a trail. He left a highway.
Host a blood drive, donate blood, bring someone to help.
Why it matters
Listening to the audience that night made one thing clear: too many people still can't explain what sickle cell is, or why it matters so much for minorities to donate blood. Iconic Excellence, the man and the module, is our answer. It is learning that sticks because people play it, and giving that grows because people share it.
"We captured gems of wisdom before, during and after the event so we can amplify them, share them, and challenge others to play along: test their knowledge, watch the film, reflect with the songs, and share the messages of the night."
Coach Lucy Howell, Co-Founder, The Force for Health® Network · Read Coach Lucy's recap →
Where to find it
Play along and pass it on
Take the challenge, earn your Iconic Excellence Badge, then share it with three people who should know Dr. Drew's story.
