About University of Maryland Uplifting Athletes
Uplifting AthletesSM network of university chapters brings our mission to life. As part of our outreach program, each university chapter is run by current football student-athletes and adopts a rare disease that has personal meaning to their team. These rare diseases affect fewer than 200,000 Americans and consequently little attention is paid to them. Football players hold special events, fundraising campaigns or awareness drives to attract fans and media, making their rare disease more popular and generating new money for research. As college football student-athletes we believe we are in a position to make a difference.
The University of Maryland chapter of Uplifting Athletes has chosen to benefit cystic fibrosis, a rare life-threatening, genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of 30,000 children and adults in the United States.
"We wanted to choose something that our football team and community could embrace," University of Maryland chapter leader Andrew Gonnella said. "Boomer Esiason has been affected by cystic fibrosis when his son was diagnosed with this rare disease and we wanted to help out."
Esiason played collegiate football at the University of Maryland and graduated in 1984.
"We're excited to run this chapter and help out a great cause," Gonnella says of choosing to help cystic fibrosis.
The Maryland chapter of Uplifting Athletes is planning its 2nd annual Lift For Life fundraising event. The fun-to-watch, weight lifting competition is slated for July 12, 2011. All proceeds raised from this event will benefit cystic fibrosis.
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