Iowa Resident Recognized for Life-Saving Work

Iowa resident Rusty Bishop has run hundreds of miles across scorching deserts to raise awareness about the need for more donors to join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. In recognition of his passion and dedication to this cause, Bishop today received the Inspiring Soles Award from Crocs Inc. and Outside magazine.

Inspiring Soles recognizes extreme athletic endeavors by an individual who also inspires others by acts of charity. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program nominated Bishop for the award because of his incredible efforts to support the NMDP. In Bishop's name, Crocs will donate $30,000 to the Iowa Marrow Donor Program that will be used to help recruit new members to the NMDP registry, as well as a full page ad for the NMDP in the April issue of Outside magazine.

 In 1992, Bishop donated marrow to a little girl named Trinity. Since his life-saving donation to Trinity, Bishop has run races all over the world to help raise funds and awareness about marrow donation.

Recently, in honor of Trinity, Bishop trekked 150 miles in seven days across the Atacama Desert in northern Chili. While crossing the desert, Bishop asked friends and family to donate money to cover the tissue-typing costs to add new members to the registry. Upon his return, while still nursing the blisters on his feet, he co-hosted a marrow donor drive in Des Moines. Bishop's efforts have brought attention to the need for more donors.

"Rusty is truly an inspiration," said Claudio Garcia, NMDP chief marketing and recruitment officer. "The Inspiring Soles donation, in his honor, will help save lives and allow more people to join our registry. We applaud and thank Rusty for his remarkable accomplishments. And we thank our partner, the Iowa Marrow Donor Program, for having the ingenuity to nominate Rusty for this award."

Bishop's story is featured in the April issue of Outside magazine.

About Inspiring SolesCrocs Inc. and Outside magazine partnered this year to create Inspiring Soles, a program sponsoring eight athletes who have dedicated their lives to raising awareness for meaningful causes. Whether they raced across the Sahara or mounted the highest peaks after overcoming life-threatening illnesses, these athletes have trekked across the world, inspiring others. Crocs and Outside have recognized these incredible efforts donating cash and product to the athletes' charities. Visit www.inspiringsoles.com for more information.

Learn more about NMDP. Or for more information call 1 (800) MARROW-2 or join online at www.marrow.org/join.