UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State students will attempt to do 7,000 push-ups prior to the Penn State-Michigan men’s basketball game Feb. 27 in recognition of the sixth annual Rare Disease Day.
The Penn State Uplifting Athletes Push-Up Challenge is open to Penn State fans and students in recognition of the nearly 7,000 known rare diseases. Rare Disease Day is Thursday, Feb. 28. Eric Shrive, of Scranton, president of Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes Chapter, made the announcement.
The Penn State Uplifting Athletes Push-Up Challenge will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Portal 31 of the Bryce Jordan Center. Student season ticket holders will be admitted at 5:15 p.m. Members of the Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes chapter, students, student-athletes and the Nittany Lion mascot will be among the participants.
Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase the popular “IRON LION” shirts, which will be available at Portal 31. Proceeds will benefit the Kidney Cancer Association, the rare disease Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes chapter seeks to raise funds and awareness for.
For those who are unable to attend Wednesday’s event, fans can participate virtually and share their results by using “#BTNLiveBig @UpliftingAth” when tweeting. Uplifting Athletes will count fan push-ups in the efforts to achieve its goal of 7,000. Photos and videos are welcome, too. Updates will be available on the Twitter account, @UpliftingAth.
During the 10 years of the Penn State Lift For Life, members of the Nittany Lion football team have raised more than $700,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association. The strength and conditioning event is annually held in July and last year raised a record $110,374.
The Nittany Lions and No. 4 Wolverines will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, in the Bryce Jordan Center. Tickets are available at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 800-NITTANY.