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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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Kent State

Chapter Established in 2019
Life Time Total $1,931.25

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.

Kent State

Chapter Leadership

Current Chapter Leaders

Isaac Vance
President
Isaac Vance
President

Isaac Vance was a teammate of Antwan Dixon, the Kent State Chapter founder. Inspired by Antwan and his rare disease journey, Isaac became a chapter leader at Kent State after participating in the inaugural Kent State Lift For Life in 2019 and helped oversee the Golden Flashes Lift For Life in 2021 as Chapter President. Isaac attended the Leadership Development Conference in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In February, he was a grant recipient presenter at the Young Investigator Draft celebration and is making sure the Kent State football program is using their platform as college football student athletes to serve and inspire hope in the Rare Disease Community.

“One of my great friends and former teammate, Antwan Dixon, struggles with Aplastic Anemia,” Vance said. “Seeing his daily fight and getting involved because of him in the Rare Disease Community is something that has impacted my life.”

The native of Las Cruces, New Mexico has played in 35 games for the Golden Flashes as a slot receiver and on special teams. In 2020 he finished third on the team in receptions with 17 catches in four games. Isaac is a two-time member of the Academic All-Mac Team and was honored as the 2019-2020 recipient of the Lou Holtz Scholarship Endowment.

Official Kent State Bio

Nico Bolden
Vice President
Nico Bolden
Vice President

Nico Bolden became a chapter leader at Kent State in 2021 and serves as the Vice President. He has assisted in landing NFL prospects to be part of Reps For Rare Diseases and helped oversee the Golden Flashes Lift For Life in 2021. Nico attended the Leadership Development Conference in 2021 and 2022 and was part of the Young Investigator Draft celebration earlier this year to help ensure the Golden Flashes football program is using their platform as college student athletes to serve and inspire hope in the Rare Disease Community.

A graduate student transfer from the University of New Mexico, Bolden saw his first action for Kent State in 2021 and had his most productive collegiate season. He appeared in 12 games, making six starts at safety. Nico finished with 85 total tackles, a couple of interceptions, a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery

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

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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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