UF football team competes in Gator Charity Challenge

July 2, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida football team is preparing to hold its second annual Gator Charity Challenge event at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The fundraiser, which was initiated prior to the 2008 season, will feature the 2009 Gator football players challenging each other in a series of strength competitions. The event is weather permitting and will be free and open to the public.

The inaugural Gator Charity Challenge, hosted in July of 2008, drew approximately 1,800 fans from The Gator Nation who watched the intra-squad strength competition. The Florida players competed in six events, all held simultaneously.

Similarly, this year the squad will be divided into teams that will represent six charities: American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Children’s Miracle Network, March of Dimes, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the North Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“It was great for the team to come together at last year’s Gator Charity Challenge and show hard work and commitment, both on the field with their teammates and supporting our six charities,” said Mickey Marotti, director of strength and conditioning at UF. “We are really looking forward to our second year of the GCC and making it another successful event. Our main mission is to create awareness for the six charities we’ve chosen to represent. We want to get Gator fans to come out and not only support the Gators, but support some really great causes.”

Pledge cards will be available on the West Concourse of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for fans to have an opportunity to donate to this year’s six worthy causes. Cash and checks will not be accepted on site, only pledge form donations.

The Gator Charity Challenge is being held in association with Uplifting Athletes, a charitable organization leading an effort to align college football with the awareness of rare diseases and raise them as a national priority.

2009 Team Captains
1. American Cancer Society – Joey Sorrentino (Ocala, Fla.)
2. American Heart Association – Jermaine Cunningham (Stone Mountain, Ga.)
3. Children’s Miracle Network – Dorian Munroe (Miami, Fla.)
4. March of Dimes – David Nelson (Wichita Falls, Texas)
5. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Cade Holliday (Gainesville, Fla.)
6. Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation – Dustin Doe (Jasper, Fla.)