Supermodel-turned-activist Christy Turlington Burns debuted her second film short "Every Mile, Every Mother" at a private screening for fashion insiders at Soho House New York. The event was part of denim brand Citizens of Humanity's "Just Like You" film series, which spotlights individuals fighting for causes near and dear to them. And Turlington Burns' cause—the need for improved maternal healthcare around the world—is a personal one (she started her own non-profit, Every Mother Counts, in 2010 after she suffered complications giving birth). "I am hoping wider audiences will be made aware of the issues women and girls face in accessing critical care in pregnancy and childbirth around the world," Turlington Burns says. "But I am also hoping that people will be encouraged to get involved and become part of the solution."
"Every Mile, Every Mother" offers a glimpse into how the Every Mother Counts team trains student midwives in Haiti, but the majority of the short depicts Turlington Burns and the EMC crew running the Hood to Coast relay race in Oregon to raise awareness. The race took place over 24 hours and spanned 198 miles. "Distance running is the perfect metaphor for labor and childbirth," Turlington Burns says. "This relay was an incredible opportunity to reinforce just how critical it is to have the care and support of a team throughout the process of giving birth."
And you, too, can get involved. Watch a clip from "Every Mile, Every Mother" below and support the organization by purchasing an Every Mother Counts x Citizens of Humanity t-shirt here. Could giving back get any sweeter?
