Sisters Sam and Alex Kimura and friend, Taylor Shorten have their route planned for 2015 to go to all fifty states. They are traveling alright, but their goal is to sign up as many potential donors to the bone marrow registry as possible along the way. At age 17, Sam was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. One option for treatment was a bone marrow transplant. Sam's sister Alex was not a match and they realized they would be dependent upon finding someone - perhaps a stranger - who was willing to donate. Although Sam went forward with another treatment option, the issue of the need for blood marrow donors was close to their hearts. So much that they created S.A.M. - Sharing America's Blood Marrow to spread awareness about blood marrow donation. Now they have an aggressive plan to not only go to every state, but to multiple cities, holding donor sign-up events on college campuses and at hospitals. Check out their route and consider giving a swab.
from the Sharing America's Blood Marrow Facebook page
You can also help out their cause by voting for them in the Expedition Granted contest by National Geographic. They were selected to be finalists out of more than 700 entries. The winner will receive $50,000. S.A.M. would use it to purchase a vehicle for the tour and pay for gas. You can vote once a day at http://expeditiongranted.nationalgeographic.com/.
Best of luck to them in the contest, as they plan their trip, and on their travels next year. We look forward to welcoming them as members in December 2015 and celebrating 50,000 new blood marrow donors.
Best of luck to them in the contest, as they plan their trip, and on their travels next year. We look forward to welcoming them as members in December 2015 and celebrating 50,000 new blood marrow donors.
In their words:
"We hope to save the lives of those fighting blood cancer and other diseases by spreading the word across the country about the need for donors, squashing the myths about the donation process, and turning regular people into heroes by giving them the opportunity to be the cure."
Sharing America's Marrow
Author: Alicia
