Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State Football Organize Charity Event for Father’s Rare Disease

From: dBusinessNews.com -

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a Jeannette High School graduate, and members of the Ohio State football team are planning the second annual Uplifting Athletes Charity Video Game Challenge to benefit rare diseases. This year, the proceeds from the event will help to combat the quarterback’s father’s rare disease – Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).

On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at Damon’s Grille (Olentangy River Road in Columbus), 16 current Buckeyes will face-off against each other in this fun-to-watch college football video game tournament, matching the offense versus the defense to crown this year’s champion. The event will run from 3-6 p.m., with a number of additional players on hand to interact with fans, sign autographs and raise awareness for the fight against CMT.

CMT is one of the most commonly inherited neurological disorders, affecting approximately one in every 2,500 people in the U.S., however very few people know about it. The disease affects both motor and sensory nerves, and currently there is no cure, however a global research initiative currently being conducted by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) is on the verge of changing that.

“Each year, we get to choose a rare disease that is relevant to the team,” said senior strong safety Kurt Coleman, who has taken over as President of the OSU Chapter of Uplifting Athletes. “Last year we helped put kidney cancer on the map, so this year we wanted to do something different. CMT is a disease that has affected the father of one of our teammates, Terrelle Pryor, and we felt like we were in a position help improve the situation for all CMT patients.”

“What Terrell Pryor and the Ohio State Football team is doing is remarkable,” said David Hall, Chief Executive Officer of the CMTA. “Joe Paterno serves as spokesperson for the CMTA, and now with the contributions from Terrell Pryor and Ohio State’s Football Team, we are grateful for their efforts along with the Uplifting Athletes organization to not only build awareness of CMT, but for their contributions towards helping us find a cure.” Both Hall and Scott Shirley, Executive Director of Uplifting Athletes will be in attendance to support the efforts of the Terrell Pryor Ohio State Football Team on Wednesday night.

Admission for the event is $10 for adults and $5 for students; special VIP passes are available for $50. Donations can be made in advance online HERE and tickets can be purchased at the door during the event. Autographed items will also be available for bid as part of a silent auction.

“Uplifting Athletes is a great way for us to use the position we’re in to help out a group of people that really needs it,” added Donnie Evege, junior defensive back. “Plus it gives us a chance to network and learn from the experience of running an organization.”

The Ohio State chapter of Uplifting Athletes was started by former Buckeye Matt Daniels, whose father, Coach Joe Daniels, has battled kidney cancer. Ohio State is one of six colleges in the Uplifting Athletes program.

About the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA):

The CMTA, headquartered in Chester, Pennsylvania, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1983. The CMTA’s goals include providing patient support, public education, promotion of research, and ultimately the improved treatment and cure of CMT. Scientific and technological advances have enabled the Association to implement an initiative, known as the Strategy to Accelerate Research™ (STAR), which is designed to lead to new treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder (CMT) within three to five years and possibly to a cure within ten years. For more information on, please visit www.charcot-marie-tooth.org.

About Uplifting Athletes
Uplifting Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to align college football with rare diseases to raise them as a national priority. University chapters are operated by current football student-athletes and raise funds and awareness for a rare disease relevant to their team. For more information about Uplifting Athletes please visit www.upliftingathletes.org.