Kenny Chesney used his superstar status and record-breaking Big Revival Tour to quite possibly save the lives of perfect strangers. During his stops, the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s “Get on the List” campaign was invited set up mobile locations on-site where fans could opt to have their cheek swabbed and cross-referenced against a list of patients fighting life-threatening bone and blood cancers.
From there, select volunteers were contacted only if they were proven to be an exact match. In all, 25 potential matches were discovered thanks to this clever partnership. Simply amazing!
“When Kate McMahon with our tour promoter explained it to me, it seemed not only so simple, but the kind of thing the No Shoes Nation is all about,” Chesney states in a press release. “Give back to others, help where you can, live to the fullest and make a difference. I can’t believe they’ve found 25 matches, but I couldn’t be prouder for the fans who come out and live these songs with us.”
Fans who have been identified as matches to patients on the list can now take a few simple steps to make a huge impact for those in dire need of help.
“If you are a match, it’s easy. You sit in a chair for a couple of hours,” explains Tim Bramlette with the “Get on the List” campaign. “They filter your blood and pull the healthy stem cells out of your plasma, and the recipient has them injected into their blood stream the same way they were extracted — through a drip, right into the blood stream.”
As expected, the East Tennessee native (yes, he hails from the “Volunteer State”) was thrilled that his loyal fans stepped up to make a difference. “I learned through the Spread the Love Fund how small things can sometimes make a major difference,” he comments. “I know my fans will pitch in, will help people in need. This was something so hard to believe, given how easy and simple it is. I’m thrilled to hear 25 matches have already been found. Maybe we should call them the No Shoes, All Heart Nation.”
Kenny Chesney kicks off his Spread the Love Tour April 23rd in Alabama with Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, and Old Dominion joining him on the road. Hopefully the work with the Love Hope Strength Foundation continues in 2016!
