$5,953
Raised of $7,500
Based on 36 reps each worth $165.36
Jake Bingham
Fundraiser Profile
This Is Bigger Than Football: I’m Lifting for the 30 Million Americans with Rare Diseases — and Two Who Changed My Life Forever.
I’m proud to represent the Penn Football team as our ambassador for Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit that uses the power of sport to raise awareness and funds for families affected by rare diseases. This mission isn’t abstract to me — it’s deeply personal. I’ve lost two people I love to rare diseases: my stepfather, Scott McRae, and one of my closest friends and teammates here at Penn, Michael Gavin. Watching them fight courageously through unimaginable challenges changed the way I see life, toughness, and what it means to truly support others.
On March 28, I’ll be competing in our Lift for Life fundraiser — a bench press competition where I’ll attempt to surpass 33 reps at 225 pounds, the highest number from this year’s NFL Combine. I’m shooting for 34 or more — not for stats, but to honor the strength and resilience of those who don’t get to choose their battles.
If you’re able, I’d be incredibly grateful for your support — whether it’s a flat donation or a pledge per rep. Every contribution helps us move closer to better treatment options, more research, and more hope for families facing rare diseases.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping me carry forward the legacy of two incredible people who inspire me every single day.
#WeTackleRare
Donations 43
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.