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.
The Northwestern Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Friday, May 24 at 4:00 p.m. Lift For Life is the signature fundraising event for the Northwestern Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Northwestern is a part of Uplifting Athletes’ nationwide network of chapters led by college […] Continue Reading »
This was a busy spring with seven chapters holding Lift For Life events in support of Uplifting Athletes and its mission to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. Penn, Stony Brook, Saint Francis, Davidson, Lehigh, Marist and Princeton, all FCS college football programs, recently held their annual Lift For […] Continue Reading »
The Princeton Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Tuesday, May 7th. Lift For Life is the signature fundraising event for the Princeton Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Princeton is a part of Uplifting Athletes’ nationwide network of chapters led by college football student-athletes. Each […] Continue Reading »
Earlier this year, Uplifting Athletes partnered with 56 NFL prospects to give them their first opportunity to share their new platform as professional athletes to inspire others with hope and to support the Rare Disease Community. When the stakes were the highest in their football lives, these NFL prospects made a choice to pledge their […] Continue Reading »
Uplifting Athletes is pleased to have Marist College join the nationwide network of chapters led by college football student-athletes. Each chapter embraces the mission of Uplifting Athletes by using college football as a platform to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport. Today, the challenges faced by the Rare Disease […] Continue Reading »
Former University of Illinois star offensive lineman Nick Allegretti was awarded the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor recently as part of the annual Fighting Illini Oskee Awards celebration. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating […] Continue Reading »
There are many ways the Uplifting Athletes nationwide network of chapter’s use their platform to inspire the Rare Disease Community. Shining a spotlight on the more than 30 million Americans affected by rare diseases is part of each chapter’s mission. Five years ago, the Penn State Chapter started raising awareness by wearing Uplifting Athletes stickers […] Continue Reading »
Uplifting Athletes is pleased to have Lehigh University join the nationwide network of chapters led by college football student-athletes holding Lift For Life events in 2019. The Mountain Hawks will hold their inaugural Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Tuesday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m. outside the University Center. The event […] Continue Reading »
The Davidson Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its second annual Lift For Life to support the Rare Disease Community on Thursday, April 25th. Lift For Life is the signature fundraising event for the Davidson Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Davidson is a part of Uplifting Athletes’ nationwide network of chapters led by college football student-athletes. […] Continue Reading »
During a pivotal time in their football lives, more than 50 NFL prospects used their first opportunities as professional athletes to give back. The Uplifting Athletes 2019 Reps For Rare Diseases showcased these athletes in a month-long campaign that kicked off in late February with the NFL Combine and ran through March with individual NFL […] Continue Reading »
