Group is a finalist for $50,000 National Geographic prize
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2014) — A national campaign by a trio of Louisville women devoted to signing up bone marrow donors has been selected from more than 700 entrants as a finalist of the National Geographic Expedition Granted competition that will award the winner $50,000.
Sam and Alex Kimura started Sharing America’s Marrow (SAM) with friend Taylor Shorten after Sam was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia when she was 17 and couldn’t find a match for a bone marrow transplant.
While Sam was able to receive alternative treatment, she has remained steadfast in supporting the cause to help others.
In January, Sam, Alex and Shorten will start a 50-state “Hero Tour” with a goal of registering 50,000 potential donors in 2015 by hosting events at universities, concerts, sporting events, businesses, and everywhere in between.
The Hero Tour starts Jan. 19 in Louisville and travels to Western Kentucky University—where Sam attended college—on Jan. 20, before heading into Tennessee. From there, the tour goes to Alabama, before working its way across the U.S. throughout the rest of 2015.
The competition winner will be selected by public vote. Voting ends Saturday and the winner will be announced Sept. 30.
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