UVa Football Players to Participate in Uplifting Athletes Fundraiser

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Charlottesville, VA – Members of the Virginia football team will take part in a fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 28 to benefit Uplifting Athletes’ Rare Disease Day 2010. The eight UVa players will participate in an online intercollegiate video game football tournament that also includes squads from Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas and West Virginia.

The Uplifting Athletes’ Video Game Challenge will take place at Buffalo Wild Wings from 3 to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Funds will go toward Uplifting Athletes mission to align college football players with the rare disease cause.

The eight UVa players will compete head-to-head to determine a campus champion who will then square off against the campus champion from the other five schools to determine an overall winner. The Cavalier players participating are Ras-I Dowling, Paul Freedman, Dom Joseph, Marc Verica, Bobby Smith, Jared Green, Kevin Royal and Mike Ahunamba. Dontrelle Inman will emcee the event.

Participation in the event is part of first-year coach Mike London’s “Hoos in the Ville” program that involves members of the Virginia football team in various community service activities.

“It is important that our players get involved in community activities,” London said. “It is a tremendous opportunity to not only benefit some great causes, but to have our players understand they can have a positive impact with many individuals and groups. Our hope is that “Hoos in the Ville” becomes a starting point and that they will continue to be involved in their respective communities well after they graduate from UVa.”

Earlier this year the University’s Student Council, The ‘Hoo Crew spirit group and Cavalier football team raised $8,194.94 for the “Hoos for Herzlich 94” campaign that benefited Uplifting Athletes.

For more information on Uplifting Athletes, visit the organization’s website at www.upliftingathletes.org.