US Soccer Legend Alexi Lalas Teams Up with Athletes Brand to Fulfill a Kid's Dream of Raising Awareness with Rare Disease Day

Scottsdale, AZ, February 25, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Retired USA soccer great and current television soccer analyst, Alexi Lalas announced today that he is partnering with Athletes Brand on a limited-time only Rare shirt to benefit Rare Disease Day. Beginning today, the shirt will be available for two weeks online at AthletesBrand.com/Alexi.

This campaign came to fruition after Evan Mundine, a 17-year-old from Texas, reached out to Athletes Brand regarding designing a shirt to raise awareness of rare diseases and help make a difference in the world. A soccer enthusiast, Mundine lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Crohn’s disease and has connected with many professional soccer players, including Alexi Lalas, in his fight. Lalas came to Mundine’s side to help him raise awareness and share his story of incredible strength and perseverance.

“Evan has been a friend and member of the soccer community for many years. He’s a young man who, despite facing many difficulties, has retained a wonderful passion for life and for the game he loves. Like soccer, Evan brings people together and I’m honored to partner with him and AB for this campaign. Together, we can raise awareness, understanding and money for a worthy cause that can help Evan and others better cope with the health-related issues in their lives,” Lalas said.

“I’ve spent the last few years in and out of the hospital battling multiple debilitating diseases and have had many major surgeries. At a young age, I had already decided to dedicate my life to giving back and made it a goal to live a life that makes a difference. I may be sick, but I still do my best everyday to help anyone that I can,” Mundine said.

The shirt will be for sale at AthletesBrand.com/Alexi from February 23 to March 7 only, with proceeds benefiting Rare Disease Day (February 29), a day during which individuals are encouraged to share a post on social media supporting those with rare diseases using #RareDiseaseDay.

About Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas is a Hall of Fame Soccer Player from the United States of America. Currently Alexi is now one of the most well known television analysts in US Soccer today. He is active on both Facebook & Twitter @AlexiLalas.

About Evan Mundine
Evan Mundine is a former youth soccer player, and major soccer fan. Evan was diagnosed with his first Rare Disease at age 9 after a soccer injury brought out a multiple genetic diseases that his family had no idea were in their gene pool. Since then, Evan now has 8 Rare Diseases and every day is a battle. Evan has dedicated his life to making the world a better place and raising awareness for Rare Diseases. He can be followed on Twitter @Bilzy.

About Athletes Brand
Athletes Brand is an athlete-run fashion brand that crafts clothing for athletes’ everyday needs away from their sport. They have a mission to help every athlete use their power of influence to make a difference in the world through sports, fashion, art and philanthropy. Visit AthletesBrand.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat: @AthletesBrand.

About Rare Disease Day
29 February 2016 marks the ninth international Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS. On and around this day hundreds of patient organizations from countries and regions all over the world will hold awareness-raising activities based on the slogan, Join us in making the voice of rare diseases heard. For more information, visit www.rarediseaseday.org.