STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 23, 2004 - Preparations are near completion for the Penn State football team's second annual "Penn State Lift For Life," with more than $8,000 raised thus far for the Kidney Cancer Association.

The event will be held on Thursday, July 8 in Holuba Hall. The public is invited to watch the Nittany Lions and compete in 11 events designed to test mental and physical toughness. A donation of $10 for an individual or $25 per family will gain fans admittance to the event, as well as an opportunity to meet and get autographs from the members of the more than 20 four-person teams that will compete. "Lift for Life" T-shirts, raffle tickets and concessions will be sold throughout the day. Staff members from the Kidney Cancer Association also will be in attendance.

All proceeds from the "Penn State Life for Life" will benefit the Kidney Cancer Association, with event organizers looking to eclipse the $13,000 raised at last year's inaugural event.

Competition is slated to take place from 2-9 p.m. on July 8. The exercises for the competitors will range from the ordinary (bench press) to the extreme (giant tire flip). The Nittany Lion mascot will be making appearances throughout the day and door prizes will be awarded hourly. In addition, raffle tickets will be sold for $5.00 with an opportunity to win a $7,000 hot tub from PDC Spas, an electric scooter, free one night stays at several local hotels and other items.

All contributors to the "Lift for Life" prior to July 6 will be gain free attendance to the event, get their name on the new website, www.psuliftforlife.org and in the event day program. Donors are eligible to win tickets to Penn State football games, autographed PSU footballs and basketballs and Lift for Life T-shirts.

Larger donation levels will provide the opportunity for floor passes to the "Lift for Life" competition, tickets to the founder's brunch on July 8 at the Nittany Lion Inn, featuring Jerry Sandusky, Bryan Scott, and other former Nittany Lions players, personal tours of the football facilities and a plaque with a picture of the donor and members of the Penn State football team.

Advance ticket sales and more information on the "Lift For Life" are available at the Student Book Store Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., from now until the event. Donations and pledges are being accepted online at www.psuliftforlife.org.

Fans attending "Lift for Life" can park in the lots designated for Arts Festival for $5.00 until 4 p.m. or in metered lots on campus. After 4:00, parking is free in lots designated for Arts Festival.

The primary organizers of the event are former Nittany Lions Dave Costlow (Lansdale), Damone Jones (Philadelphia) and Scott Shirley (Enola), as well as senior placekicker Robbie Gould (Lock Haven).

For more information, go to the new "Lift for Life" website, www.psuliftforlife.org, or call Deloris Brobeck (814-865-1946).