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After his best season, Princeton running back Jordan Culbreath suddenly saw his life change in 2009.

Jordan said the symptoms he experienced were “fatigue, soreness, tingling, numbness in my legs.”

It was caused by a rare disease, Aplastic Amenia. So, two games into his junior season Jordan was told he would never play again, because one wrong hit could prove deadly.

“I wouldn’t have been able to stop bleeding in my head or anywhere else in my body if something bad happened,” Jordan explains.

After a year of treatment, Jordan’s improvement shocked everyone, and he returned to the field for his senior season.

“To play again is one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had,” the recent Princeton graduate said. “It’s very gratifying to know I didn’t let this illness beat me.”

For his courage, Jordan was honored two weeks ago at the College Football Hall of Fame Gridiron Legends Luncheon series by Uplifting Athletes, an organization that helps fight rare diseases.

After the luncheon, Jordan visited Memorial Hospital with NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb. Jordan felt a connection with the kids there.

“I know smiles are tough when bad things happen like that,” Culbreath said. “To be able to help them out and inspire them like that so they can smile is just a great feeling.”

Princeton is just one university working with Uplifting Athletes. Northwestern is starting too.

Proceeds from Northwestern’s fundraisers go to the Ara Parseigian Foundation to fight Niemann Pick C disease.

“Just a great way for us to give back,” says Northwestern cornerback Ricky Wiena. “Brings our team together. We’re going to do a ‘Lift for Life.’ Working hard. Good way for us to connect while giving back.”

Northwestern’s Lift for Life event takes place July 22.

Jordan Culbreath’s amazing story is also told in a new documentary called Running Through.