Nov. 18, 2014

The South Carolina Chapter of Uplifting Athletes is looking to turn touchdowns into rare disease research dollars.

In order to support the Gamecocks’ chosen rare disease, Pelizaeus Merzbacher, the South Carolina Chapter is holding a Touchdown Pledge Drive on November 29.

For the road game at Death Valley against in-state rival Clemson, each touchdown the Gamecocks score will support Pelizaeus Merzbacher research.

Fans can support the football student-athlete led South Carolina Chapter by making a donation through the Gamecocks’ online Touchdown Pledge Drive site, pldgit.com/southcarolina.

The South Carolina Chapter formed in early 2013 and this past summer held its second Lift For Life event. The Gamecocks chose the rare disease Pelizaeus Merzbacher to support a teammate who has a relative battling this rare disease which affects the central nervous system.

Uplifting Athletes is a national non-profit organization aligning college football with rare diseases and raising them as a national priority through outreach, research, education and advocacy.

Each of the 25 student-athlete led chapters nationwide raises research funds and brings awareness to their chosen rare disease through a Lift For Life fundraiser.