Kenny Chesney and Love Hope Strength Foundation Find 25 Bone Marrow Matches During Big Revival Tour
"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,” Chesney said.
Not only was Kenny Chesney’s 2015 Big Revival Tour the most attended country concert of the year, but it also made a huge difference in people’s lives.
During Chesney’s stadium tour stops, the superstar partnered with the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s Get On The List Campaign, to allow fans the opportunity to register as potential bone marrow donors with a simple cheek swab. With help from Delete Bone Cancer, the swab is entered into the national donor bank for potential matches.
Finding matches is typically a needle in a haystack situation, but No Shoes Nation provided 25 potential matches for people who are fighting life-threatening bone and blood cancers.
“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 said. “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.”
“It’s really easy,” explained Tim Bramlette, the Get on the List campaign’s director of events and artist relations. “We bring the pop-up tent and the Love Health Strength Mini Cooper – and they set us up in the parking lot where all the special stuff is. Our team comes down and we make ourselves available to give people information. They fill out a form, swab their cheek, and are only contacted if they’re 100 percent a perfect match, which doesn’t sound like too much, but the number of people on this planet?”
Because of the matches found, Chesney is considering adding another title to his massive fan base. “I learned through the Spread the Love Fund how small things can sometimes make a major difference. 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.”
Chesney is currently taking some time off the road for the holidays, but will pick back up in Auburn, AL on April 23 for his Spread The Love Tour, featuring Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion. See a full list of stadium tour dates HERE.
For more information on Love Hope Strength Foundation’s Get On The List Campaign, visit lovehopestrength.org.
