Gamecocks do heavy lifting for a good cause

Temperature? 101.

Heat index? Higher.

The cause?

Worth it.

Nearly 70 members of South Carolina’s football team braved searing heat Friday in the third Lift for Life event, pushing, cleaning, flipping and toting equipment across the practice field for charity. The Gamecocks are hoping to raise $5,000 for research into Pelizaeus Merzbacher, their chosen disease.

With a rare few days off from summer conditioning before the next semester, and a shadeless expanse of grass during the hottest part of the day, the players could have politely declined. Hanging by the pool or carrying 180-pound racks 10 yards isn’t a tough choice.

But over half the team took the latter, because that’s what Aaron would do if he was able to.

“I’m happy with the turnout,” former player Devin Washington, president of USC’s chapter of Uplifting Athletes, said. “I put in a lot of my time, but it’s not about me – it’s about Aaron Church.”

Church is the cousin of tailback Devin Potter and the inspiration for the lift. He suffers from PMD, a condition that affects one in 200,000-500,000 U.S. males and is often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy.

The affliction targets the central nervous system and causes delayed intellectual and motor functions. Church is sponsored by the Gamecocks’ chapter and is surrounded these days by T-shirts, towels, anything USC can give to show support.

“Last season, we got him to a game and he just went crazy,” Potter said. “He just had surgery on his back in March, and he had his little Cocky stuffed mascot on his bed when he got back to his room.”

The Gamecocks split into teams and went through four stations. One involved flipping a monster-truck tire; one was toting racks 10 yards, then sprinting to pick up another sand-filled weight and carry it 10 yards; one was pushing and pulling weight sleds. Then the teams got together for a tug o’ war.

“It’s hot, it’s steamy,” said Washington, who organized the event with Perry Orth, Drew Williams and Ali Groves. “But we’re going to play in game conditions like this as well, so it’s preparing us for the season.”

To donate to USC’s cause, visit give.upliftingathletes.org/southcarolinalift2015.

NOTE: USC sports information confirmed that the Gamecocks will report for preseason camp on Aug. 3 and have their first practice on Aug. 4.

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 8:37 PM.