Husker Rex Burkhead is a champion and it's not for his work on the football field.
Wednesday on Rare Disease Awareness Day, Uplifting Athletes named Rurkhead the Rare Disease Champion.
The award stems from a special relationship with six-year-old Jack Hoffman, and Rex's efforts to raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer.
Jack was diagnosed with has pediatric brain cancer last year and has undergone two surgeries to remove a brain tumor. Before Jack's second surgery in Boston last fall, he got to meet Rex last fall and the rest of the Husker football team.
They formed a fast friendship that's been going strong ever since.
During the online voting period, more than 76,000 people voted, many from "Husker Nation."
Votes and awareness the Hoffman family is thankful for.
Jack Hoffman tells 10/11, "Thank you! Husker fans are the best"
Andy Hoffman, Jack's father says, "We're just so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Husker nation. I find it ironic that 76,000 people voted and at one time Memorial stadium held 76,000 for a sellout. Husker nation did a phenomenal job here."
Andy adds, "What Rex has been able to accomplish awareness-wise is just incredible. It's such a serious issue and there's just no funding and part of the reason for that is because there's just been a lack of awareness. So Rex is really putting it on the national agenda and really there are no words to describe how huge this whole thing is."
The award does not raise any type of money, that's why the pediatric brain cancer and tumor community could use your help. If you'd like to donate you can click on the link below.
