Blue White Illustrated

August 2022

Penn State Sports Magazine

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A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 9 OPENING SHOT HEAVY HITTERS Penn State football players spend the summer months working quietly behind the scenes to prepare for their upcoming season, but they do break cover for one event: Lift for Life. A strength-training fundraiser pitting offense against defense, Lift for Life gives players a chance to help raise money for a worthy cause while also offering Nittany Lion football fans an opportunity to check in on the team, including newly arrived transfers like redshirt senior offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad (left) and sophomore edge rusher Demeioun "Chop" Robinson (right). This year's edition of the annual fundraiser, held June 30 on the practice fields adjacent to the Lasch Building, generated $26,589 to support those suffering from rare diseases and to fund research into treatments. Of that total, $11,942 was raised by the offensive line, and $2,700 of that total was raised by sophomore left tackle Olu Fashanu. Senior long snapper Chris Stoll is president this year of the Penn State chapter of Uplifting Ath- letes, the philanthropic organization that puts together Lift for Life. Stoll said he was inspired to take on that responsibility after his grandfather died of Lewy body dementia in 2020. "I have a personal connection to the rare dis- ease community with my grandpa passing away a couple years ago. Just being able to engage the rare disease community is important," Stoll said. "I think it just gives us the ability to engage not only our team as brothers but to expand our fam- ily to those community members who may feel a little bit alone during this time." Lift for Life was one of many team activities that were impacted by the pandemic the past two years. The 2020 event was canceled, and last year's Lift for Life took place without fans in attendance. This year's edition was the 19th in the event's history. Since it was founded in 2007 by Penn State football player Scott Shirley, Uplifting Ath- letes has formed 28 chapters at Division I football programs throughout the country and has raised more than $4.5 million to support the rare disease community. Of that total, $1.5 million has been used to fund research into rare diseases, which affect fewer than 200,000 Americans and often are not prioritized in a way that could make a dif- ference in the development of treatments. For more information on Lift for Life and the work that is being done to raise funds and build awareness, visit UpliftingAthletes.org. PHOTO BY THOMAS FRANK CARR

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