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BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football team is participating in a weightlifting challenge as part of a “Hokies Helping Heroes” initiative and inviting fans to pledge a certain amount of money per pound lifted in the bench press during the team’s winter testing. All proceeds from the challenge would go to the Lone Survivor Foundation.

U.S. Navy Seal (Ret.) Marcus Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation in 2010. The Foundation’s mission is to restore, empower and renew hope for U.S. combat service members and their families. The Foundation does this by providing educational, therapeutic and wellness opportunities for combat service members and their families.

This Hokies Helping Heroes initiative allows fans to pick a player and then pledge a certain amount of money per pound lifted by that player in the bench press during the team’s winter testing. So if a fan pledges 50 cents per pound for a particular player and that player lifts 420 pounds in the bench press, then the pledgee would owe $210, which would go to the Lone Survivor Foundation. Fans can pledge any amount.

Donors who pledge more than $75 will receive a Virginia Tech strength and conditioning T-shirt with a slogan “Never quit on those who never quit on us!” on the back. These will be mailed out once the event has been held and the pledges submitted. There could be a two-week turnaround before donors start receiving the shirts.

The football team’s testing in the bench press is scheduled for March 3. The athletics department plans on posting a running tally of the pledge amounts (but not the donors’ names) for each individual player before that date and then post the individual results following the testing.

The event is not open to the public, but videos of the respective players lifting will be posted on hokiesports.com shortly after the event. Once the lifting is completed, donors will be notified of the results.

“I know our players, and I think many of our fans consider themselves patriots and appreciative of those who have served our country,” said Dr. Mike Gentry, Tech’s associate AD for athletic performance. “This is an opportunity to add a little different element to our training regimen, while also raising money for and bringing attention to such a worthy organization. Our players are excited about this, and we’re hopeful that Hokie Nation will join us in supporting the Lone Survivor Foundation.”

To be a part of the Hokies Helping Heroes initiative and make a pledge, please go to this website - http://vthoki.es/HelpingHeroes. Fans can see a photo of each player with his first and last bench press max here at Tech.

To learn more about the Lone Survivor Foundation, please check out http://lonesurvivorfoundation.org.

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