Uplifting Athletes is uplifting community

Uplifting Athletes was founded in 2003 by Penn State University football player Scott Shirley to raise awareness of the challenges that families dealing with rare diseases face daily. Shirley’s efforts have made their way to Johnson City. 

The ETSU chapter of Uplifting Athletes was established in 2021 by former football players Shaun Hastings and Blake Austin. Noah Gravel, a sophomore kinesiology major and ETSU linebacker, is helping raise awareness of their efforts in the local community with the help of Cade Fleeman and Isaac Vance. 

“It’s really intriguing because rare diseases are so complicated,” said Gravel. “Most of the time, one out of 10 people will get diagnosed with a rare disease and it’ll take seven to eight years to really learn about the complexities of the disease.” 

As a result, there is little funding available for researchers since it takes so long to discover the cause of each disease. When Shirley recognized a need for this research, he sought a way to raise funds for scholars. 

“So he (Shirley) created the Lift for Life event and with a team you can create little competitions. Let’s say somebody did 15 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press; every rep that somebody did will give  $10 per rep to that player,” said Gravel. 

“Lift for Life” is set for April 24, but it is not the only event that ETSU’s Uplifting Athletes chapter will host this year.  

The chapter wants to engage with the Johnson City community more through events such as a bowling night, inviting families for a media day and a spring game. 

“We want families to come in and be part of our atmosphere because we know 2024 is going to be a special year,” said Gravel. “They (families) are going to be here with a representative from Uplifting Athletes taking care of them. They’re going to spend time with the team and I think afterward the goal is to go bowling – anything for them to just know more about us, know more about the football team.” 

Uplifting Athletes will continue to work with families throughout the year and continue to invite them to be part of the ETSU football family. 

“It’s going to be the first year that we’re going to have families come in and just enjoy, and just be part of it,” said Gravel. 

The money that Uplifting Athletes raises through its events is put toward the Young Investigator Draft. The draft selects 10 researchers with the chance to receive a $20,000 grant toward their rare disease research. Uplifting Athletes has held five drafts providing over $820,000 across 44 researchers. 

For more information about Uplifting Athletes, contact Noah Gravel at gravel@etsu.edu or visit upliftingathletes.org/chapter-east-tennessee-state.