PHILADELPHIA – Uplifting Athletes announced its inaugural Rare Disease Champion Team on Thursday, Dec. 13, and University of Pennsylvania football student assistant Anthony Lotti was one of five student-athletes to be honored with a spot on the team.
 
For 12 years, Uplifting Athletes has recognized a Rare Disease Champion. Starting in 2019, the focus of the Rare Disease Champion Award shifts from highlighting an individual leader in college football to a team concept that provides an opportunity to recognize leaders in college football that have made a positive and lasting impact on the Rare Disease Community. 
 
Uplifting Athletes couldn't be prouder to share Lotti's inspiring rare disease story as a leader in college football.
 
Lotti is joined on the 2019 Uplifting Rare Disease Champion Team by Kent State wide receiver Antwan Dixon, Davidson linebacker George Hatalowich, Syracuse offensive lineman Sam Heckel, and Kentucky linebacker Josh Paschal.
 
"We feel strongly that our obligation to the Rare Disease Community is to share the powerful and compelling stories of people inside college football who have lived the rare disease journey, as patients and advocates," Uplifting Athletes Executive Director Rob Long said. "I believe this will be the start of a tradition recognizing those in college football like Anthony who are inspiring, serving and supporting those who need it the most."
 
An Uplifting Athletes awareness campaign, the 2019 Rare Disease Champion Team powered by Sanofi Genzyme will be celebrated at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. on March 6, 2020 and at Uplifting Athletes' Young Investigator Draft at Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia March 7, 2020.
 
Nominees for the award were solicited from any NCAA FBS, FCS, Division II or Division III institution or college football program nationwide.
 
Past Rare Disease Champion winners consist of seven FBS players including USC long snapper Jake Olson (2016), UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin (2018) and Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates (2015), one FCS player, a Division III quarterback, an FBS assistant coach and an administrator from AFCA.
 
The Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
 
About Uplifting Athletes
Founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes fulfills its mission to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport with a powerful network of over 20 college football student-athlete led chapters, Uplifting Ambassadors and Team UA participants.
 
Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $5 million to support the mission of Uplifting Athletes and its charitable programs: Rare Disease Awareness, Rare Disease Research, Uplifting Experiences and Uplifting Leaders. To learn more, go to www.upliftingathletes.org.