STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 31, 2004 - The Penn State Football team's second annual "Penn State Lift For Life" was a tremendous success and continues to grow. The recent charity event has raised $31,265 for the Kidney Cancer Association to aid in the fight against the disease for the 31,000 Americans who are afflicted with kidney cancer each year.

The two-year total benefiting the Kidney Cancer Association is now more than $44,000 from the two "Lift for Life" events.

The total for this year's event, which is more than double the $13,000 raised last year's inaugural event, is expected to grow with one notable item remaining to be auctioned on eBay. A football autographed by 15 Heisman Trophy winners, signed and donated by Penn State's John Cappelletti, will be made available on eBay the week before Penn State's September 4 season opener against Akron. Among the other Heisman winners that have autographed the ball are: Jason White, Ron Dayne, Tony Dorsett, Billy Sims, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Gino Toretta, George Rogers, Charles White, Steve Owens and Johnny Lattner. The ball comes with a certificate of authenticity. More information about the auction is available at www.psuliftforlife.org.

Ninety-two Nittany Lions participated in the "Lift for Life" competition in Holuba Hall on July 8. Twenty-three four-person teams competed in 11 events designed to test mental and physical toughness. The winning team was comprised of safety Paul Cronin (Uniontown, Ohio), quarterback Chris Ganter (State College), tight end Isaac Smolko (Petersburg, Ohio) and wide receiver Gio Vendemia (Greenville). The exercises for the competitors ranged from the bench press to the giant tire flip. Visit www.psuliftforlife.org for a complete list of the teams, full descriptions of the events, action photos and video of the competition, and general info about the charity.

Four members of the 2003 and '04 Penn State squads have immediate family that had, or are fighting, kidney cancer. The Nittany Lions' goal for the event is to help raise money and awareness for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of kidney cancer.

The public can still support the "Penn State Lift for Life" by visiting www.psuliftforlife.org and purchasing a T-Shirt, making an online donation, or making a pledge and mailing a contribution to: Penn State Lift for Life, c/o Deloris Brobeck, Lasch Football Building, University Park, PA 16802. Checks should be made payable to the "Lift for Life. " All donations will be contributed to the Kidney Cancer Association to help support research and awareness.

The squad organized all aspects of the event, with 2003 seniors Scott Shirley (Enola), Dave Costlow (Lansdale) and Damone Jones (Philadelphia), as well as senior-to-be Robbie Gould (Lock Haven) heading the effort.

Any questions can be directed to Deloris Brobeck in the Football Academic Support Center at 814-865-1946. For more information or to make a donation, visit the "Lift for Life" website at www.psuliftforlife.org.