Penn State's Lift for Life raises over $100,000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Fans and family members packed the stands at the Penn State Lacrosse Field for the football team's 13th annual Lift For Life Saturday morning.

The Lift For Life is the main event for the school's chapter of Uplifting Athletes, which benefits the Kidney Cancer Association. The chapter has raised over $1 million since 2003.

This year's event pitted the Nittany Lions offense against the defense in a series of scored competitions, including the bench press, sled pull and push, tire flip, dead lift, an obstacle course, and tug-of-war.

"I think the most important thing for all of us is the opportunity to use our platform for good in a different type of way," said linebacker Ben Kline, president of Penn State's Uplifting Athletes chapter. "I think that's the most fulfilling part of it."

Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and defensive back Jordan Lucas kicked off the event with the bench press. The players swarmed around them and cheered them on as they lifted 225-pound weights over their chests.

For many players, the Lift For Life is one of the highlights of the summer. Not only because it's for charity, but also because it gives them a chance to take a break from the grueling workouts they have endured for the last several weeks.

"Summer workouts kind of get into a little bit of a routine, so we really look forward to this event," said offensive lineman Tom Devenney. "It's kind of like a team-building exercise. It involves the community, so we feel really good about it."

The final - and most popular - event of the day was the tug-of-war. The defense went into the final event with a slim, 30-26 lead but was unable to hang on, and the offense came away with the 31-30 victory.

The 2015 Lift For Life raised $119,303.

"Can't say enough about how awesome our kids are as kids," strength and conditioning coach Dwight Galt said. "They're great football players, they're great athletes, they represent Penn State in every way, but they're just great kids."