Documentary Shines Light on One Man’s Mission to Fight Medical Debt
After overcoming cancer, Richard Propes, born and raised in Indiana, found himself facing overwhelming medical debt. With no help in sight and bills unpaid, he experienced homelessness on two separate occasions.
He eventually became employed by the state of Indiana’s Disability Division, seeing even more devastation to those left in the wake of crippling debt. Having faced these hardships himself, Propes wanted to see what he could do armed solely with kindness. He would soon learn that just a little bit of tenderness goes a long way.
Starting in the early 2000s, Propes began his Tenderness Tour, wheeling hundreds of miles on trails across the state to help highlight the overbearing burden of medical debt on Hoosiers. An initial and continuing success, his Tenderness Tour became a yearly trek, and Propes could be found wheeling himself across 150 miles of Indiana trails every summer. Inspired by his selfless crusade, filmmaker Andie Redwine decided it was time to give his story a broader audience.
A native Hoosier, Redwine became acquainted with Propes at the Heartland Film Festival years ago. Inspired by his story and multiple feats of activism, Redwine would later participate in Propes’ tour, trailing him in a minivan as he wheeled ahead, doing her part to raise awareness for suffering families.
Fast forward 15 years, and Redwine was given the opportunity of a lifetime when she was asked to film Propes’ story. Redwine undertook filming of the documentary The Tenderness Tour in March 2024. The Tenderness Tour debuted at the Heartland Film Festival in October of this year, and the response was overwhelming.
“It’s sad to me that people who are ill and sick don’t have access to critical medical care,” Redwine says. “All they’re doing is daring to get well. They just want to get better, and it’s horrifying to think that we have the ability to heal and we don’t choose to do that for one another.”
Awarded the Indiana Spotlight Award and the Indiana Audience Choice Award, The Tenderness Tour was a resounding success. Redwine was humbled to see audience members with tears in their eyes and sharing hugs after the viewing.
“This film takes you on a journey that’s hard to forget — a vividly painted, powerful look at flawed systems of power and a portrait of a man trying to make a difference against stacked odds,” says Rocky Walls, executive director of Hoodox and co-founder of 12 Stars Media. “Mostly, we loved the authenticity and humanity that the main character embodies and seems to inspire in everyone around him. This is an extremely important film that stands to make a wide impact and can help people see a way through to systemic change.”
An added bonus, Propes raised $16.8M during filming, impacting more than 7,000 Indiana families. Redwine hopes the acclaim will help gain nationwide exposure for Propes and his ongoing cause.
Redwine expressed gratitude for the opportunity to tell Propes’ story, but she was further struck by the community support that helped bring the film to life. Local celebrity John Mellencamp donated a song for the film, alongside other notable artists such as Carrie Newcomer, Eric Johnson, the Fruit Bats, and the Stampede String Band.
“The people who gave to this project — they’re all Hoosiers,” Redwine says. “This has been a real community effort. I’m just so pleased with it. So many hands came together to make this work. It wasn’t cheap, but we were able to do this one on a bare-bones budget and create something that is really a work of art.”
Redwine is currently in discussions for a distribution deal so that all Americans can benefit from Propes’ story. Although she recognizes that fundraising efforts are a Band-Aid, Redwine hopes her work will spur real systemic change so Americans don’t have to live under the weight of crushing medical debt.
“We’re not making this film to get rich,” she says. “We want it to have an impact. I’ve marveled at the sacrifices people have made to make this film possible, and I could not be prouder of what we’ve accomplished. In fact, I think we’re just getting started.”
To learn more or make a donation to Propes’ cause, please visit
