The news was more than Darien Hardy could take.

Hardy, a reserve cornerback on the Penn State football team, learned in the locker room last season that his father's battle with kidney cancer had taken a turn for the worse. The sophomore was overcome by the news.

As if by providence, Penn State strength trainer John Thomas was there to lend a strong shoulder.

"From a football perspective he's tough on us, and that's how it's supposed to be," Hardy said. "But I was battling, trying to hold back the tears, and I kind of broke down in the locker room and he was there for me. He said family's first. He was there for me."

Unfortunately, Hardy's situation on the team isn't unique. In fact, it's far too common.

Four Nittany Lions -- receivers Scott Shirley and Josh Hannum, and another team member who has not been identified -- are dealing with situations similar to Hardy's.

It is from these hard circumstances that Lift for Life was born. The second annual edition of the event takes place from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Holuba Hall and is open to the public.

Individuals attending are asked for a $10 donation at the door, or $25 donated per family, with proceeds going to the Kidney Cancer Association.

The event grew from what was originally named the July 4th Challenge, a weightlifting competition that was held between teams of four Penn State football players who were on campus during the holiday.

Last year, however, Shirley learned his father's kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) had returned after a nine-year period in remission.

Following surgery to remove the kidney and the tumor, Shirley's father then learned the tumor had spread to his lungs.

Turning to the Kidney Cancer Association for help, the family found the group in dire need of funding.

Shirley's roommate at the time, offensive tackle Damone Jones, had a quick comeback to the problem: "Let's make a difference."

That difference became Lift for Life, an 11-event battle of wills that was designed to push players to the limit, both physically and mentally.

Teams of four players compete in weightlifting events, ranging from leg pressing 300 pounds as many times as possible to flipping tractor tires for five minutes. Twenty-two teams are set to compete in this year's event, including several groups of incoming freshman, which will certainly receive a quick education in workouts at Penn State.

In addition to the competition, fans can observe or bid in silent auctions for items donated by former Penn State football players. Among the memorabilia is a football signed by 20-plus Heisman Trophy winners, including the 1973 recipient, Penn Stater John Cappelletti.

Shirley, the event's president, Dave Costlow, the vice president and a center last year for Penn State, and Jones said the event raised $13,000 last year. It is a total they say they could eclipse this year.

"This is only our second year, so we're really not sure of the potential of our fund raising efforts," Jones said.

"For right now we're just trying to make it as public as possible and get people to donate."

Shirley said doubling the proceeds from last year would be fantastic and is a goal that is within reach.

Just the chance to do something so positive in the face of such negative odds, Hardy says, is uplifiting.

"[My father's condition] is looking kind of negative right now, so I decided to join the Lift for Life with my teammates," Hardy said. "It's helped me get over this incident, helped me encourage my father and my family."

And those are encouraging things, indeed.