Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization that inspires the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport. Our national network of chapters is run by current football student-athletes.
Rare Disease Awareness
Featured Here: PSU uniforms promoting Uplifting Athletes
The Rare Disease Awareness program shares the platform of sport with the rare disease cause and raises it as a national priority.
Every year during spring scrimmages and regular season games, university chapters plan numerous activities to inspire the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport. Some of our favorite examples include Uplifting Athletes branded footballs, helmet stickers, jersey patches, wristbands, and promotional videos!
Rare Disease Champion
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion is given annually to a leader in college football who has realized his or her potential to make a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community.
An awareness campaign powered by Uplifting Athletes, the Rare Disease Champion is determined by college football fans and the rare disease community through online voting. The award is presented to the winner at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in Atlantic City, NJ, and celebrated at Uplifting Athletes’ Young Investigator Draft in Philadelphia, PA.
Sculpted by world-renowned artist Brian Hanlon, the Rare Disease Champion trophy is in the likeness of Mark Herzlich, the former Boston College and current New York Giants linebacker who provided the inspiration for the award after overcoming a life-threatening battle with the rare disease Ewing’s sarcoma in 2009.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia experienced a Rare Disease Community takeover Saturday night when Uplifting Athletes hosted its 2nd Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring. And the spotlight at The Linc – home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles – was on the six rare disease research grant recipients drafted by our priority partners to […] Continue Reading »
For the fifth consecutive year, Uplifting Athletes is empowering NFL prospects with the opportunity to use their NFL Pro Day as a platform to give back by raising funds and awareness in support of the Rare Disease Community. The Reps For Rare Diseases Campaign is one of the first opportunities for these athletes to create […] Continue Reading »
The Stony Brook Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Friday, March 15th 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 »
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers. These Young Investigators will pursue rare disease research in one of five different areas: rare cancers, rare autoimmune and immunological […] Continue Reading »
For the fifth consecutive year, Uplifting Athletes is empowering NFL prospects with the opportunity to use the NFL Combine as a platform to give back by raising funds and awareness in support of the Rare Disease Community. The Reps For Rare Diseases Campaign is one of the first opportunities for these athletes to create an […] Continue Reading »
Uplifting Athletes will host its 2nd Annual Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring on Saturday, March 9th at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while […] Continue Reading »
