The fourth annual "Penn State Lift for Life" was a huge success; the event raised more than $10,000 the Kidney Cancer Association. Click here for more photos

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. , July 14, 2006 ¨C The Penn State Football team's fourth annual "Penn State Lift For Life" was a tremendous success, raising this year¡¯s contributions for the Kidney Cancer Association to a record $53,800.

Eighty-eight Nittany Lion football student-athletes tested their strength and endurance in an 11-event strength and conditioning challenge in front of more than 2,000 fans, friends and family in Holuba Hall.

With the record-setting total, more than $130,000 has been raised to aid in the fight against the disease for the more than 30,000 Americans who are afflicted with kidney cancer each year.

Twenty-two four-person teams competed in 11 events designed to test mental and physical toughness. ). The exercises for the competitors ranged from the bench press to carrying 100-lb. plates to the giant tire flip.

The winning team was comprised of defensive end Josh Gaines (Fort Wayne, Ind.), safety Spencer Ridenhour (White Plains, N.Y.), linebacker Tyrell Sales (Butler) and center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis).

Second place was secured by the team of safety Jason Ganter (State College), quarterback Kevin Suhey (State College), safety Mark Rubin (Amherst, N.Y.) and center Patrick Weber (Arnold).

The third place team was comprised of defensive tackle Jay Alford (Orange, N.J.), safety Donnie Johnson (Cincinnati), linebacker Jerome Hayes (Bayonne, N.J.) and defensive end Jed Hill (Struthers, Ohio).

The Nittany Lion football team organized all aspects of the event, with Ganter and Suhey primarily heading the effort, along with other current squad members, former Nittany Lion and event co-founder Scott Shirley and Deloris Brobeck.

Inquiries about ¡°Lift for Life¡± can be directed to Brobeck in the Football Academic Support Center at 814-865-1946. For more information or to make a donation, including the ¡°Friends Asking Friends Network,¡± visit the "Lift for Life" website at www.psuliftforlife.org.