Athletics

Lift for Life raises funds to fight kidney cancer, draws 2,500 fans

Cornerback Da'Quan Davis, left, and linebacker Von Walker competed in the tire flip at Lift for Life 2014. The Penn State Uplifting Athletes' annual Lift for Life event raises money for the Kidney Cancer Association.  Credit: Bill Zimmerman / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The 12th annual Penn State Uplifting Athletes Lift For Life was a tremendous success on Saturday (July 12), raising the 2014 total to a record $140,000 and the cumulative total to nearly $1 million to benefit the Kidney Cancer Association.

As of this morning (July 14), Penn State football student-athletes have raised slightly more than $140,000 for kidney cancer patients and awareness this year, with additional donations expected this month. More than 100 members of coach James Franklin’s squad participated in Saturday’s Lift For Life, breaking their record for the sixth consecutive year, surpassing the 2013 event total of $133,506 for the Kidney Cancer Association.

With the $140,000 in contributions from this year, $992,565 has been raised in the battle against rare diseases by Penn State Uplifting Athletes since the inaugural Lift For Life was held in 2003. The inaugural event raised just less than $13,000. The last four Penn State Lift For Life events have all raised in excess of $100,000, pushing the cumulative total to the brink of $1 million.

Contributions to Penn State Uplifting Athletes in the fight against kidney cancer for 2013-14 will be accepted through Sept. 30. Fans can make a donation at http://give.upliftingathletes.org/psuliftforlife2014.

Sunny skies and a crowd of about 2,500 fans greeted the Nittany Lions at the Penn State Lacrosse Field as the offense topped the defense by a score of 30-24 in the six-event, head-to-head strength and conditioning competition. The upperclassmen participated in the head-to-head competition pitting the offense against the defense. Simultaneously, the true freshmen ran in a mini Lift for Life kids clinic with more than 100 participants on the turf at the lacrosse field.

The Nittany Lions put on a show for the fans in attendance with an exhibition in six strenuous events. The competition featured five rotations of one-on-one battles in the "dominator" shuttle run, deadlift, sled push, tire flip, tug run (water-filled plastic tug device) and 225-pound max bench press.

Saturday's 12th annual Lift For Life was a resounding success with the offense topping the defense by a score of 30-24 in a six-event, head-to-head strength and conditioning competition to benefit the Kidney Cancer Association through Penn State's chapter of Uplifting Athletes. 

Last Updated July 15, 2014

Contact