Maryland players spent 45 minutes Saturday flipping tires, pushing prowlers and performing other strenuous drills as part of the team's annual "Lift for Life" efforts to raise money for rare diseases.

The Terrapins have raised more than $14,000 this year to help fight cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of roughly 30,000 Americans. They raised roughly $9,000 last year.

"We're just trying to do whatever ever we can to give back," offensive lineman Justin Gilbert said. "There are a lot more people less fortunate than we are."

The money is donated to the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which has raised close to $100 million for cystic fibrosis research. Esiason's son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with the disease as a 2-year-old in 1993.

Other schools such as Boston College, NC State, Ohio State and Penn State hold similar events every year as part of Uplifting Athletes. The schools have raised more than $1 million since 2003.

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