Eastern Illinois

Kenzie Balcerak became a chapter leader at Eastern Illinois for the women’s soccer team in 2021. She is the President and was largely responsible for the historical first non-football Lift For Life by a college program in 2021. Kenzie attended the Leadership Development Conference in 2022 and was a grant presenter at the 2022 Young Investigator Draft celebration. Kenzie is making sure the Panthers women’s soccer program is using their platform as college student athletes to serve and inspire hope in the Rare Disease Community.

The Wisconsin native midfielder has appeared in 38 matches the last three years including 17 starts in 2021 where she logged a team-high 1,462 minutes of action. Kenzie has four career assists and her lone collegiate goal was an overtime game winner in 2020.

Cameron Leach volunteered to step into a leadership role and serve as a chapter leader following the 2021 season. He attended the Leadership Development Conference and Young Investigator Draft in 2022 to prepare for the upcoming year. Cameron will play a key and instrumental role moving forward in helping the Eastern Illinois Chapter continue its mission to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope.

“My dad had a rare form of cancer that he was able to beat so I wanted to help other people in similar situations.”

The native of Chicago has started 17 consecutive games on the defensive line for the Panthers, including all 11 games in 2021. Cameron recorded 48 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass break ups and a fumble recovery the last two seasons as a starter.

Tim Varga volunteered to step into a leadership role and serve as a chapter leader following the 2021 season. Tim attended the Leadership Development Conference and Young Investigator Draft in 2022 and is making sure the Panthers football program is using their platform as college football student athletes to serve and inspire hope in the Rare Disease Community.

“My roommate was the Eastern Illinois Chapter President, so it was just a natural fit for me to get involved. I’m learning that being a part of Uplifting Athletes provides us the opportunity to help so many people.”

Tim has been a starter on the defensive line his first season at EIU and following the 2021 campaign he was named second team All-Ohio Valley Conference after posting 48 total tackles and six tackles for loss in 11 games including tying for the team lead with four sacks.

Jenna Little volunteered to step into a leadership role and serve as a chapter leader in 2022 after participating in the inaugural EIU Lift For Life in 2021. SHe attended the Leadership Development Conference and Young Investigator Draft celebration in 2022 to prepare for the upcoming year. Jenna will play a key and instrumental role moving forward in helping the Eastern Illinois Chapter continue its mission to inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope.

The Michigan native is a third-year midfielder/forward for the Panthers who has appeared in 21 games with five starts and more than 800 minutes played. Jenna scored her first career goal against Morehead State in 2021 and was an Ohio Valley Conference Academic Medal of Honor recipient in 2020.