USC's Jake Olson gets 17 bench press reps to raise money for cancer research
USC long snapper Jake Olson did 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at USC’s pro day on Wednesday.
Amazing moment at USC Pro Day. Jake Olson, their blind long snapper, just had 17 reps on the bench press to raise funds for retinoblastoma, which took his eyesight. pic.twitter.com/kSxWZxanAX
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) March 20, 2019
Olson, who lost his eyesight as a child because of retinoblastoma, participated in the pro day to raise money for retinoblastoma research.
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His fundraising page has nearly $50,000 in pledges as of Wednesday morning with 10 days left in the fundraiser. Olson is donating all the money toward the clinical testing of a treatment that could help those suffering from retinoblastoma not lose their sight.
“The Episcleral Topotecan device, or what we’ll refer to as the chemo plaque, is a non-invasive reservoir that is implanted in the eye. The device delivers direct chemo, Topotecan, to the tumors and vitreous seeds located within the eye and the results have been astounding. Last year, two children who had one tumorous eye left and who had maxed out on every other treatment option, were completely cured through the use of the chemo plaque.”
Olson had a goal of 20 reps in the bench press, but coming up three short isn’t a failure by any means. The list of people who can put up 225 pounds 17-straight times is very, very short.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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