Past Winners

2012

Rex Burkhead, Nebraska’s running back, was named the 2012 Rare Disease Champion. Burkhead’s relationship with a 6-year-old boy battling a pediatric brain tumor inspired his teammates to fight back by raising awareness and providing support for him and his family. Read his uplifting story here!

2011

Princeton’s Jordan Culbreath was named the 2011 Rare Disease Champion. Culbreath’s personal battle was an inspiration for his teammates and an inspiration to the rare disease community. Read his uplifting story here!

2010

Dickinson College’s Ian Mitchell was named the 2010 Rare Disease Champion. Mitchell raised more than $95,000 in his collegiate career in honor of a childhood friend who passed away from a rare form of bone cancer. Read his uplifting story here!

2009

The 2009 recipient was Grant Teaff of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), selected for its nation-wide effort to raise awareness about Duchenne Muscular Distrophy through their one-day event “Coach to Cure MD”, which raised more than $230,000 in 2008.