Who Are we?
Drive for Five Network
The Drive for Five Network was inspired by friends of Mark McIntosh challenging the former Denver TV sportscaster, motivational speaker/author and community advocate to use his professional communication skills and large social media presence to raise awareness to America's growing kidney crisis.
The DFF Network of ambassadors creates educational and inspirational content and has three main objectives with this public awareness campaign:
what's the news?
Our Story in the Media
The Drive for Five Network has received much appreciated reporting from several media outlets willing to raise awareness to the mission of inspiring more live organ donations, advocate for better state and national policies encouraging more participation and educating Americans about its growing kidney crisis. Here are a few examples.
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Your 66-year-old scribe’s roots are deeply embedded in athletics. Long ago, a full scholarship to Mizzou to play football and baseball followed by a long and fulfilling career as a television and ra...
Inspire
The Drive for Five Network was birthed in Mark McIntosh’s weekly men’s fellowship group. When the bunch learned one of their members needed a kidney transplant, the fellas challenged McIntosh. “Given your communications skills and social media following? Go find 5,000!” The challenge was accepted.
The Missouri native and other DFF Network correspondents create content - writing and videos - designed to inspire Americans to “Share their spare, safe a life, leave a priceless legacy.” As managing editor of DFF, McIntosh writes a weekly column published Mondays extolling the need and benefits to live organ donation. America has a growing kidney crisis with far more citizens in need of organ transplants and dying while waiting on lists.
Advocate
The Drive For Five Network is actively involved in advocacy to develop and pass smart legislative policies at the state and federal levels encouraging greater participation in live organ donation. There’s 90,000 Americans on waits lists but only about 27,000 deceased and live organ donors annually. And it’s getting worse. The DFF Network strongly advocates for modifying NOTA.
EDUCATE
As mentioned before, America’s in the throes of an ever-increasing kidney crisis. Type 2 diabetes has TRIPLED since the turn of the century. Diabetes, high blood pressure and excessive weight? They are kidney killers. Communities of color are disproportionally effected. For example, Blacks are SIX times more likely to suffer high blood pressure than Whites. Three times more likely to suffer kidney disease. The Brown community is also more vulnerable.
The DFF Network is dedicated to working with leaders of communities of color and educating the masses on wellness and lifestyle choices to keep diabetes, high blood pressure and excessive weight gain at bay. Today, 550,000 Americans are on dialysis but the number is expected to reach 1,000,000 in the next six years. Our nation is out of shape and the cost in lives and livelihoods are devastating unless you play the market and invest in the renal care industry. Unfortunately, it’s good and getter better.