Penn State offensive lineman Eric Shrive has won the 2013 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award.
The redshirt senior-to-be has raised nearly $70,000 for kidney cancer patients and research during his Penn State career.
The honor is presented annually to a leader in college football who has made a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community. More than 30 million Americans are affected by rare diseases.
Shrive was one of seven national finalists for the award, which was determined by fan voting. He will be presented with the Rare Disease Champion Sculpture at the Maxwell Football Club’s Awards Gala on March 1. He will be honored the following day at the Uplifting Gridiron Gala in Harrisburg.
In a prepared statement, Shrive said that while he is honored by the recognition, “the real winners are the people affected by kidney cancer who I was able to help with the money I was able and will continue to raise.
“I’ve taken marketing classes and have learned about adding new strategies to approach new donors. I’m constantly thinking of new people to ask for help.”
His quest to fight kidney cancer became personal in 2011 when an uncle was diagnosed with the disease.
Now, he talks of raising another $30,000 and more in the coming year. He recently was elected president of Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes chapter after serving as vice president the past two years.
Shrive played in every game last season and is poised to earn a starting spot in his final year with the Lions.
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