Kent State

As the Special Projects Director at the Amyloidosis Foundation Kathi Luis is invested in the rare disease patients, families and caregivers that her nonprofit serves. She is a dedicated and committed advocate for the Rare Disease Community. The Amyloidosis Foundation, like most single rare disease patient focused organizations, is powered by a small staff. Kathi […] Continue Reading »

Nearly 30 million Americans are living with a rare disease and  COVID-19 continues to present a myriad of challenges that is not only impacting the patients but their families and caregivers as well. At the top of the list is reduced access to vital medical care which, in turn, has exacerbated already existing challenges. Among […] Continue Reading »

Uplifting Athletes is proud to announce the inaugural 7,000 Mile Challenge – a 10-day event starting July 17th that will bring focus and attention to the more than 7,000 known rare diseases. People affected by a rare disease are fighting against a finite clock that didn’t stop because of COVID-19. We’re letting the Rare Disease […] Continue Reading »

COVID-19 has led to many adjustments of the college athletic schedule. The football student-athletes and programs Uplifting Athletes work with face a condensed time frame to prepare for the upcoming season under heightened safety precautions. In order to avoid any additional pressure, Uplifting Athletes made the decision to cancel all our annual Lift For Life […] Continue Reading »

When NC State tight end Thomas Ruocchio headed to Philadelphia for his first Uplifting Athletes Leadership Development Conference in 2017, he was anticipating a weekend of business and logistics meetings. Four years later, the outgoing NC State Chapter President appreciates the weekend of connecting with other college football student-athletes bound together by the rare disease […] Continue Reading »

Uplifting Athletes posted a statement on Monday, June 1st. Continue Reading »

We are discovering more every day about the vital role rare disease research plays, not only for those affected by rare diseases, but also for those impacted by more common illnesses as well. Translational and collaborative research Uplifting Athletes helped fund through its Young Investigator Draft is impacting Castleman Disease patients and provides relative science […] Continue Reading »

Uplifting Athletes is honored to enjoy a fruitful and expanding partnership with Chicago-based Horizon Therapeutics. Horizon has been a believer in our innovative way to fund rare disease research since the beginning, supporting all three years of the Young Investigator Draft. Their commitment to the Rare Disease Community, rare disease research and our initiative to […] Continue Reading »

Uplifting Athletes values its relationship with Dr. David Fajgenbaum and the organization he founded, the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN). It started when Uplifting Athletes’ founder, Scott Shirley, and Dr. Fajgenbaum crossed paths for the first time eight years ago. The developing relationship has always featured two different paths, but with the common goal of […] Continue Reading »

The Stony Brook Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Sunday, March 8th. Lift For Life is the signature fundraising event for the Stony Brook Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Stony Brook is a part of Uplifting Athletes’ nationwide network of chapters led by college […] Continue Reading »