Penn State's annual Lift For Life event, a tradition that has raised both money and awareness for rare diseases, will be open to the public for the first time since 2024. The 23rd edition is set for July 1 on the practice fields just beyond the Lasch Football Building in State College, Pennsylvania.
The morning competition pits the Nittany Lions' offense against the defense in a series of athletic challenges, each designed to draw donations from spectators. Organizers have announced a suggested contribution of $10 for adults and $5 for children, with all proceeds earmarked for the university's chapter of Uplifting Athletes.
Following the contests, players will stay on the field for a 15‑minute autograph session, giving fans a chance to meet the team while reinforcing the event's charitable mission. The fundraiser directly supports rare‑disease families, linking athletic spirit with humanitarian impact.
A Legacy That Endures
The roots of Lift For Life trace back to 2003, when receiver Scott Shirley and his father, Don Shirley, organized a modest weight‑lifting fundraiser after Don was diagnosed with kidney cancer. That effort raised roughly $15,000 and sowed the seeds of a nonprofit that would later become Uplifting Athletes.
Since then, the initiative has expanded dramatically. In 2004, Shirley formally incorporated the organization, and by 2007 he assumed the role of executive director, eventually chartering affiliate programs at five universities. Today, former Penn State wide receiver Brett Brackett serves as president of Uplifting Athletes, overseeing a network that reaches millions of rare‑disease patients.
Under head coach Matt Campbell, who took the helm of the program earlier this year, service has become a cornerstone of the team culture. At the recent THON rally, Campbell pledged to match every dollar the players raise for pediatric cancer research, underscoring the coach's commitment to giving back.
Cooper Cousins, an offensive lineman, reflected on the broader significance of the event, noting that “when you combine Uplifting Experiences with Lift for Life, rare‑disease families get more than a game — they get a reminder of why it all matters.”