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Mission:
Inspire the Rare Disease Community with hope through the power of sport


Vision:
Empower people to take action against rare diseases and be a catalyst for the medical community to find cures

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Eastern Illinois

Chapter Established in 2019
Life Time Total $4,973.50

Uplifting Athletes Mission

is to inspire the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport. Our vision is to empower people to take action against rare diseases and be a catalyst for the medical community to find cures.

Eastern Illinois

Chapter Leadership

Current Chapter Leaders

Kenzie Balcerak
President - Women's Soccer
Kenzie Balcerak
President - Women's Soccer

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
Vice President - Football
Cameron Leach
Vice President - Football

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
President - Football
Tim Varga
President - Football

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
Vice President - Women's Soccer
Jenna Little
Vice President - Women's Soccer

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.

Uplifting Athletes Programs

Rare Disease Research

Leverage public interest to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare diseases

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Uplifting Leaders

Develops social influencers into leaders that make a positive impact on the rare disease community

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Uplifting Leaders
Rare Disease Awareness

Shares the platform of sport with the rare disease cause and raises it as a national priority

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Uplifting Experiences

Creates special moments that enrich the lives of rare disease patients and their loved ones

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Uplifting Experiences

Fundraising Initiatives

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News & Past Events

#WeTackleRare

Thu, 06/30/2022 - 14:16
@ UpliftingAth
Thu, 06/30/2022 - 14:16
@ UpliftingAth
Just as the world within the Rare Disease Community continues to evolve, so does Uplifting Athletes. With exciting…
Wed, 06/29/2022 - 22:19
@ UpliftingAth
RT @PennStateFball: Lift for Life 2022 is this Thursday on the practice fields! 😁👍 Support the cause in person 6/30 at 5pm or by donating…
Wed, 06/29/2022 - 19:28
@ UpliftingAth
The @PennStateFball Lift For Life is set to take place tomorrow! Chapter Leader, Chris Stoll (@ChrisStoll18) shar…
Tue, 06/28/2022 - 14:08
@ UpliftingAth
The @CSUFB Lift For Life is back for its 2nd year‼️ Chapter leaders Cooper Dawson (@Cooper15Dawson) and Hombre Ken…
Mon, 06/27/2022 - 20:04
@ UpliftingAth
RT @ODUFootball: The guys had a great time yesterday with @UpliftingAth! It's more than a game!! Huge thanks to everyone who has and will…
Sat, 06/25/2022 - 23:33
@ UpliftingAth
RT @JustBBMedia: Back within a run! Michael A Taylor clubs a two-run homer and after falling behind 8-5, the Royals have climbed back to…
Sat, 06/25/2022 - 23:33
@ UpliftingAth
Three hits and counting today including a this homer for @Taylor_Michael3! Each one supporting the…
Sat, 06/25/2022 - 14:00
@ UpliftingAth
The inaugural @ODUFootball Lift For Life is today!! If you can’t make it out to S.B. Ballard Stadium still plenty o…
Sat, 06/25/2022 - 02:02
@ UpliftingAth
RT @zackkuntz_717: Can’t wait to see #MonarchNation out at S.B. Ballard tmrw to help us #TackleRare and help the #RareDiseaseCommunity ! @U…
Fri, 06/24/2022 - 22:55
@ UpliftingAth
RT @PennStateFball: Lift for Life is just ONE week away 🙌 Join Us → https://t.co/DFFUi8YY9q Donate → https://t.co/Rb1Fmbp6uD
Thu, 06/16/2022 - 13:30
@ UpliftingAth
Happy Birthday to our Chapter Success Manager, Levi Norwood (@LeviNorwood) ‼️ #WeTackleRare
Wed, 06/15/2022 - 20:43
@ UpliftingAth
@nicrish @PennStateFball @PSU_Uplifting Kids Clinic is on for this year!
Wed, 06/15/2022 - 17:59
@ UpliftingAth
PSU Football #LiftForLife is back! Open to the public ✅ Kids Clinic ✅ Whole Lotta Weight Thrown Around ✅ Supportin…
Sun, 06/12/2022 - 14:30
@ UpliftingAth
Happy Birthday to our Interim Board Chair, John Trzeciak‼️ #WeTackleRare
Fri, 06/10/2022 - 16:46
@ UpliftingAth
Thank you @Gretti_53 for the continued support and shoutout this morning on @gmfb ‼️ Looking forward to the skills…
Thu, 06/02/2022 - 19:27
@ UpliftingAth
Thank you to @BigTenNetwork for helping us share our message and continuing to bring awareness to the Rare Disease…
Wed, 06/01/2022 - 19:00
@ UpliftingAth
We are proud to continue the Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine (URM) Initiative! 2023 Young Investigator Gr…

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