Uplifting Athletes

Your reason for coming doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours. Come to LDC this February, or bring a teammate who should be there. #WeTackleRare

Some of the hardest parts of living with a rare disease are things you can’t see. For the Elliott family, the diagnosis was only the start. That’s why community matters. When families find people who get it, the road gets a little lighter. #WeTackleRare

30 days until Team UA hits the starting line in Philly. 27 runners across the 8K, Half and Full Marathon, each running for someone in the rare disease community. Every mile has a why.

Garner Wallace joined UA as a freshman and grew into a more vocal leader. Today, he’s still helping carry the mission forward by volunteering to host Uplifting Experiences as an alumni. Alumni, stay connected: upliftingathletes.org/contac… #WeTackleRare

Friedreich's ataxia is a progressive rare disease. Since 2019, @CureFA has helped us draft researchers in three classes, because we never fund alone. Ten years of the Young Investigator Draft. Come see it Feb 6.

Since May, @RobLong47 has gone from 2-mile runs to 18-mile Saturdays. On Nov. 22 he runs the Philadelphia Marathon for Uplifting Athletes. Sponsor a mile for $10, or all 26.2 for $262, and your name crosses the finish line on his hat. charity.pledgeit.org/TeamUAP… #WeTackleRare

Highlights from our Community Experience with the Philadelphia Union are in! Watch the full reel for a little dose of pure happiness and tap the link in our bio to make a donation that will help us host more families this season!

When you lace up with Team UA, you’re not just logging miles, you’re stepping into the fight alongside 30 million Americans impacted by rare diseases. There’s still time to claim your spot on Team UA and turn your training into impact at the Philly Marathon this November.

In 2018, Dr. David Fajgenbaum was drafted in our inaugural Young Investigator Draft class with a seed grant. Traditional drug development takes 25 to 30 years. We funded this research in 2018, and a meaningful treatment now feels less than two years away.

When rare disease touches someone you love, perspective changes, and so does the motivation to make a difference.  Want to run alongside Chris and Team UA this fall? A few 8K spots are still open! DM us or tap the link in our bio to claim yours before they’re gone!

Former Saint Francis University football player. CEO of the Marks Organization. “Gotta just do the work.” Jimmy learned that leadership means showing up for others. Today, he continues supporting the rare disease community. #WeTackleRare

This summer, we brought families together to laugh, connect, and step away from the daily weight of appointments and treatments. From ballparks to bowling alleys, kids got to just be kids, and families found a community standing right beside them.

Thank you to the Atlanta Falcons and JD Bertrand for making our families feel so welcome at our community experience this month, and a massive thank you to Pfizer for sponsoring this event with additional support provided by Swoop.

Moments like these are why we do what we do. Check out the smiles, connection, and pure joy from our Community Experience at historic Fenway Park! A massive thank you to our sponsor, Sarepta Therapeutics, for partnering with us to bring these special moments to life!

On February 6, we mark a decade of backing the early-career scientists chasing answers for diseases most people will never hear of, alongside the patient advocacy partners who refuse to let rare mean forgotten, and the families who live it every single day. #WeTackleRare

Former Northwestern DL. "Spending the day with rare disease families showed me how much it means to feel seen and supported." Today, PJ and his wife continue giving back by hosting rare disease families at a White Sox game. #WeTackleRare

Payton Morrissey has spent all summer running the streets of Philly. Bibs are still open for the 8K. If her why sounds anything like yours, there’s a spot on this team. Link in bio to sign up! #WeTackleRare

Part 2 of Jenni Anne’s story. A Facebook post led this family to a bowling alley - and a room full of bigger-than-life athletes who lit up around Jenni Anne. They didn’t know it yet, but they’d found their community. And they’ve been part of ours ever since.

Today, we begin an incredible journey with one shared goal: 10,000 miles. One united community. Endless hope. Over the next 10 days, every mile walked, run, hiked, swam or rolled brings us closer to a future where no one facing a rare disease has to feel alone.

August isn’t slowing down and neither are we. Uplifting Experiences from coast to coast and 10,000 miles to log in between. Be a part of the journey with us as we harness the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.