Lift for Life Returns July 8
July 5, 2022 | Football
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Chapter of Uplifting Athletes is pleased to announce its annual Lift For Life to inspire and support the Rare Disease Community will take place on Friday, July 8.
This year marks a milestone for the Illinois Chapter with its 10th Lift For Life. Launched in 2011, the Illinois Chapter held its inaugural Lift For Life in 2012. Since its inception the Illinois Chapter has raised more than $140,000 to support the Rare Disease Community and the mission of Uplifting Athletes.
"This cause has a special place in my heart," Illinois Chapter President and offensive line Alex Palczewski said. "Being able to take advantage of our platform and to shine a light onto a problem and to be able to help people suffering from these rare diseases and let them know they are not alone means the world to me."
Fans, family, and friends can support the Lift for Life by visiting pledgeit.org/illinoislift22. You can also make a flat donation to any team.
Proceeds from the 2022 Illinois Chapter Lift For Life support Uplifting Athletes and its commitment to create Uplifting Leaders, fund Rare Disease Research, engage in Uplifting Experiences, and expand Rare Disease Awareness.
"I'm excited to support rare diseases this year in memory of my friend Dan, who passed away from a rare disease, Ewing's Sarcoma, in 2020," Illinois Chapter Vice President and offensive lineman Alex Pihlstrom said. "I'm excited to raise money for research for rare diseases and to help remember Dan and his fight every single day along with anyone who may have lost someone to a rare disease."
Lift For Life is the signature awareness and fundraising event for the Illinois Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. Illinois football is a part of a network of collegiate chapters led by student-athletes. Each chapter embraces the mission of Uplifting Athletes by using their platform to harness the power of sport to help build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.
Today, the challenges faced by the Rare Disease Community are bigger than any one individual, team or organization can tackle alone. The Illinois Chapter is uniquely positioned to raise awareness and engage the local community to help ensure no person impacted by a rare disease feels alone and everyone is inspired with hope for the future.
The student-athlete led Illinois Chapter serves the Rare Disease Community in honor of Andrew Carter, a former Illini offensive lineman who battled the rare disease acoustic neuroma in 2011. Carter never played football again, but his fight inspired the Illinois football program to help Tackle Rare Diseases.
Please support the Illinois Chapter and help the Fighting Illini reach their impressive $5,000 team Lift For Life goal.
About Uplifting Athletes
Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that harnesses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases. Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $7 million by engaging athletes in order to positively impact the Rare Disease Community through driving action and funding research. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit www.upliftingathletes.org
