Made with fresh watermelon juice, vodka, triple sec, and lemon-lime soda, a Watermelon Crush is exactly as bubbly, bright, and refreshing as you want from your ideal summer sipper. And if you’re in Pennsylvania this summer, you can enjoy the drink of the year while also supporting a good cause: rare diseases.
Cris Collingwood reported in the Central Penn Business Journal that, after two liquor industry associations in Pennsylvania declared the Watermelon Crush the official summer cocktail of the year, Holla Spirits announced that a portion of sales from its Watermelon-Lollipop Vodka will go towards supporting Uplifting Athletes.
Uplifting Those with Rare Diseases
Uplifting Athletes—a Patient Worthy partner—is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leverages the power of sport to invest in, and support, the lives of people living with rare diseases nationwide. The organization supports the rare disease community through a variety of initiatives including the Young Investigator Draft, Researcher Connection Program, Uplifting Experiences, and programs like Lift for Life through its many college chapters.
As someone who has lived with a rare disease, Holla Spirits’ founder Patrick Shorb knows how important any community support is. For every bottle of its Watermelon-Lollipop Vodka sold, whether to clubs and bars or to patrons’ homes, Holla Spirits plans to donate a portion of sales to Uplifting Athletes. Shorb hopes that this will contribute to improving rare disease research and providing necessary support and resources to affected individuals and families.
The importance of research in rare disease cannot be understated. Because rare diseases often affect smaller groups of people, are complex and lesser understood, and lack education in the medical community, it can often be difficult to encourage research and drug development in this field. Every dollar counts when it comes to rare diseases.
Just as the liquor industry associations do, we also encourage other bars or distilleries in Pennsylvania to consider setting aside a portion of their funds raised from Watermelon Crushes this summer to allocate towards rare disease research and support important, life-changing organizations like Uplifting Athletes.
