Orange Tackle Rare Diseases at 2017 'Lift for Life'

(7/19/2017) 2017 'Lift for Life'

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University chapter of Uplifting Athletes hosted its fifth annual "Lift for Life" event with friends, family and fans in the stands at Manley Field House on Wednesday, July 19. The student-athletes showcased their competitive nature in an effort to raise research funds and awareness for those affected by rare diseases.

The Orange raised over $11,000 to benefit the rare-disease community, while competing in various events such as a wheelbarrow race, tire flips, figure-eight relays and a medicine ball toss. The "Lift for Life" always hits close to home for former 'Cuse football team captain Rob Long, who fought his own battle with Anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare form of brain cancer, which manifested during his final season in 2010. Long now works for Uplifting Athletes as the organization's director of strategic development.

"Seeing where Rob came from and to seeing him now basically running Uplifting Athletes is just a testament to the power of Uplifting Athletes and how, when a lot of people who can make a change come together, they can just do that," said senior linebacker Zaire Franklin.

Wednesday's competition was fierce as the student-athletes not only challenged one another, but also faced off with a handful of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum.

After the first series of events, teams led by Eric Dungey, Franklin and Ervin Philips advanced to the semifinals, while the teams headed up by Daivon Ellison and Cody Conway squared off in a lengthy game of Rock, Paper, Scissors for the final spot. Ultimately, Ellison came out on top and his team moved into the semis, which featured an obstacle course highlighted by tossing a football into a trash can from about 10 yards away.

Team Franklin and Team Ellison advanced to the championship round tug-of-war, where Ellison's team prevailed.

Ellison squad may have triumphed on the field but the true winners of the evening were those in the rare-disease community for whom the student-athletes were competing. In the stands were members of the Belfield family from nearby Mexico, N.Y. Since early 2015, Lillian Belfield has been battling Anaplastic astroblastoma, a disease similar to Long's. The Belfields formed a bond with the Syracuse chapter and the team often offers encouragement and support to the family.

"Any chance we get to see a survivor and warrior come out here, like Lillian, it gives us some extra motivation," said chapter president Zack Mahoney. "When we get a chance to compete and give back to the community it is always a big thing for us."

ABOUT UPLIFTING ATHLETES
A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Uplifting Athletes inspires the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans and typically lacks financial incentive to make and market new treatments. With a network of university chapters run by current college football student-athletes, Uplifting Athletes has established 22 chapters with Division I football programs across the country. Overall, Uplifting Athletes has had an economic impact of more than $400 million on the rare-disease community. For more information about Uplifting Athletes, visit www.upliftingathletes.org.

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Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Tackle Rare Diseases at 2017 'Lift for Life'

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Players Mentioned

Cody Conway

Eric Dungey

Daivon Ellison

Zaire Franklin

Zack Mahoney

Ervin Philips

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