Team UA: RMAC SAAC Lift For Life 2026
Only 5% of Rare Diseases Have Access to an FDA-Approved Treatment. We’re Lifting to Change That, But We Need Your Help!
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference SAAC— Lift for Life Campaign
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference SAAC is proud to launch its Lift for Life initiative, bringing our teams together for something bigger than the game.
This event supports Uplifting Athletes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that harnesses the power of sport to build community and invest in the lives of those impacted by rare diseases.
Lift for Life is Uplifting Athletes’ signature event, led by college student-athletes across the country. Now, through Team UA, RMAC student-athletes have the opportunity to channel that same energy and purpose across our conference. Because the challenges faced by the rare disease community are bigger than any one team, this is our moment to step up together and be part of something that truly matters.
This initiative reflects what RMAC athletics stands for. Showing up for one another. Putting in the work. Using our platform to create impact beyond competition. Every rep, every lift, every ounce of effort becomes part of a larger mission to support families facing battles most people never see.
As we launch this effort, the focus is clear. Build it strong from the start. Set the tone across the conference. Create a tradition that unites our programs and rallies our communities around a cause that deserves more attention, more support, and more voices.
You can be part of it by making a flat donation or pledging based on team performance during the event. Every contribution fuels research, supports families, and reminds the rare disease community they are not alone.
This is just the beginning for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Let’s build something that lasts.
SAAC - Lift for Life
The RMAC Summer SAAC Retreat is a three-day event (Sunday, July 26 - Tuesday, July 28) in Colorado Springs that brings together two SAAC representatives (one male and one female) from each institution (30 total attendees). The retreat focuses on professional development, leadership development, community engagement, mental health education, etc. through guest speakers, panels, workshops, and activities. On Monday, we will have a special speaker - Nick Kirchhof - Men's Soccer Coach - Metropolitan State University of Denver, Special Speaker Session: Nick Kirchhof As part of the RMAC Summer SAAC Retreat, attendees will hear from Nick Kirchhof, Head Men's Soccer Coach at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Coach Kirchhof will share his family's personal journey navigating rare disease and the profound impact it has had on their lives. Through his experiences as a student-athlete, coach, father, and advocate, Coach Kirchhof will challenge student-athletes to consider the influence of their platform and the difference they can make in the lives of others. His message will highlight the power of leadership, service, and advocacy, demonstrating how athletes can use their voices to create meaningful change for causes that matter in their communities and beyond. Afterwards, the team will compete in a fun Lift For Life to raise funds and awareness.
Behind this effort is the leadership of our SAAC, driving the vision and making it all happen.
Our student-athlete leaders are leading the charge, organizing the event, rallying their teammates, and turning purpose into action. This is more than participation, it’s ownership. It’s leadership in motion.
They’re building something bigger than themselves, creating a unified effort across the conference, and delivering real impact for the rare disease community.
This is what student-athlete leadership looks like. And this is just the start.
Donations
Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that harnesses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases. Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $9 million by engaging athletes in order to positively impact the rare disease community through driving action and funding research. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes please visit UpliftingAthletes.org.