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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Chapter of Uplifting Athletes will hold its annual Lift for Life to support the rare disease community on Friday, July 16 at Memorial Stadium. 10 teams of Fighting Illini will compete against each other through circuit training competition before a final event between the top five teams crowns a Lift for Life champion.

Lift for Life is the signature fundraising event for the Uplifting Athletes nationwide network of chapters led by college football student-athletes. The Illini Chapter continues its mission of using college football as a platform to inspire the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport.

2021 will mark the ninth Illinois Chapter Lift for Life as part of Uplifting Athletes. Proceeds from the Illinois' annual Lift for Life support Uplifting Athletes and its commitment to life skills development, patient focused programs and rare disease research.

Fans and supporters can donate to Illinois' Lift for Life campaign here: https://pledgeit.org/for/illinois-football-lift-for-life-2021 . Proceeds from the 2021 Lift For Life support Uplifting Athletes and its commitment to create Uplifting Leaders, engage in Uplifting Experiences, fund Rare Disease Research, and expand Rare Disease Awareness.

The Illini have raised over $130,000 in the first eight years of Lift for Life. 

The Illinois Chapter began in 2011 and serves the rare disease community in honor of Andrew Carter, a former Illini offensive lineman who battled the rare disease acoustic neuroma. Carter is a rare disease survivor but, unfortunately, never played football again. He remains a strong supporter of the Illinois Chapter and his battle continues to serve as an inspiration for the Fighting Illini to serve the rare disease community.

» Andrew Carter's Story

About Uplifting Athletes
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. With a network of university chapters run by current college football student-athletes, Uplifting Athletes has at least one chapter in each of the FBS Power Five Conferences. Overall since its inception Uplifting Athletes has had an economic impact of more than $400 million on the rare disease community. For more information about Uplifting Athletes, visit www.upliftingathletes.org.