ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Global Genes is pleased to announce the stars and special celebrity guests joining in the fight against rare disease at the 5th Annual Tribute to Champions of Hope presented by PRA Health Sciences on September 24, 2016. The annual blue carpet event honors and celebrates rare disease advocates, scientists, patients, and supporters.

This year's event will be another star-studded evening with multiple celebrity guests attending in support of rare disease including Ed O'Neill (Modern Family, Married with Children) Madison McLaughlin (Supernatural, Arrow), fitness model Shaka Smith, YouTube and Vine sensations Alx James, Liza Koshy, and David Dobrik, actor and SEAL Geoff Reeves (Transformers), actor and director, Edward Edwards (RoboCop and Global Arts Corp), actor, author, and philanthropist Travis Flores, and many more still to be announced. Rare disease patient advocate and syndicated radio talk show host, Scot "Froggy" Langley will be the master of ceremony for the evening of festivities.

Viral sensation, patient advocate, and award honoree, Audrey Nethery, will join the line-up of entertainment with her beloved karaoke and dance skills. With over 1 million views on YouTube, Audrey has brought awareness to Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, a rare bone marrow disease, while sharing joy and hope through her performances. The entertainment line-up will also include singer-songwriter and winner of American Idol season 5, Taylor Hicks.

The evening's program will also include a special collaboration performance by the finalists from season 6 of NBC's The Voice. The top finalists from the season are coming together for a first-ever collaboration performance in support of the rare disease community and to honor Global Genes advocate, the late Christina Grimmie, who tragically passed away this past June. Recording artists Ryan Whyte Maloney, Cali Tucker (niece of country legend Tanya Tucker), Jake Barker, Biff Gore, and Jake Worthington will re-unite for this powerful and moving performance.

The 5^th Annual RARE Patient Advocacy Summit™ will take place the two days prior to the Tribute, September 22 - 23. The Summit assists patient advocates in becoming successful activists and offers support to help navigate their rare disease journey.

Presenting sponsor: PRA Health Sciences

To date Tribute and Summit include Champions and Patient Advocacy Summit sponsors include: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Pharma, Genentech, Pfizer and Walgreens. Additional sponsorships provided by: Allied Intrade, Audentes Therapeutics, Amicus, Shire, Healthcare at Home, Novartis, Vertex, BioMarin, Clear Pharma, Everylife Foundation, Mallinckrodt, Recordati Rare Disease, Biogen Idec, Takeda, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Abeona Therapeutics, Chiassma Pharmaceuticals, Ambry Genetics, Akcea Therapeutics, Janssen, Sigma Tau, Cambridge BioMarketing, Alnylam, Dohmen Life Sciences Services, BIO, FK Health, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), Jazz Pharmaceuticals, IDIS, Marathon Pharmaceuticals, Third Rock Ventures, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Voyager Therapeutics, PhRMA, Retrophin, Raptor, RegenxBio, Regeneron, Sanofi-Genzyme, Sobi, SmithSolve, Spark Therapeutics, Illumina and Ultragenyx.

To learn more about Global Genes and event sponsorship opportunities, visit www.globalgenes.org/events.

About Global Genes
Global Genes is a leading global advocacy non-profit organization for patients and families fighting rare and genetic diseases. Global Genes works to eliminate rare and genetic disease challenges by building awareness, developing patient-focused educational tools, and funding patient care programs and early investigative research. Recognized worldwide by the Blue Denim Genes Ribbon™, Global Genes is dedicated to uniting experts, advocates, patients and their families. The organization seeks to help find treatments and cures for the 7,000+ rare and genetic diseases that affect an estimated 30 million Americans and over 350 million people worldwide.

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SOURCE Global Genes