Redshirt sophomore safety Kaelin Drakeford and redshirt junior safety Brandon Guido have partnered up with UpLifting Athletes on the behalf of Eastern football.
Drakeford posted on Instagram Monday morning explaining the partnership with UpLifting Athletes: The Touchdown and Turnover Pledge Drive.
Throughout the Panthers’ game against Tennessee State Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field, for every Panther touchdown and every forced turnover by the Panthers’ defense, anyone can donate money or pledge to donate to the cause.
“The goal is five total touchdowns or turnovers,” Drakeford said. “Any money helps, but it’s going to rare disease research.”
A pledge donation can be as low as $10, as high as $100, or anyone can make a custom amount for the pledge.
A one-time donation can be made as well. The one-time donations can be as low as $50, as high as $500, or anyone can make a custom amount for the donation.
Guido felt like Drakeford and himself could make a difference with this pledge drive after the two attended a leadership seminar in February.
“Kaelin and I had the opportunity to attend [an] UpLifting Athletes leadership seminar in Philadelphia this past February where we learned about how college athletes can make a difference within the rare disease community,” Guido said. “After hearing speakers who live with rare disease speak, we knew we needed to do whatever we could to raise awareness and money for rare disease research.”
According to the Orphan Drug Act, a rare disease is a disease or condition that impacts fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.
According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, one in 10 Americans and 30 million people across the United States suffer from rare diseases.
Drakeford had one final message for Panther fans ahead of the last home game of the season at O’Brien Field.
“Come out Saturday, donate to our Turnover and Touchdown Drive and lets have some fun,” Drakeford said.
The goal for Drakeford and Guido is to donate $1,000 to the drive.
Click here to donate to the Touchdown and Turnover Pledge Drive.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.
