The Greenville High School athletic department will be hosting a Lift-a-thon Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. in the gym and a $5,000 draw down raffle will be held in the cafeteria immediately following the weightlifting.

The Lift-a-thon is a new program that Tiger head football coach and athletic director Bryant Vincent has installed, although many schools around the state perform a similar exercise.

&#8220To me, football teams are made in the weight room,” Vincent said. &#8220We stress being strong, and to be a complete football team, you have to do what it takes in the weight room.”

&#8220Besides the classroom, which is No. 1, we stress that the weight room is where championships are made and won,” he added.

Along with the weightlifting exhibition, Vincent said having things like the raffle are instrumental to having a successful high school athletic program.

&#8220It takes a lot of resources to run a program and to do what we want, equipmentwise, we have to have fundraisers,” Vincent said. &#8220To put a kid, even in a practice uniform, it takes a lot of money.”

Thursday event should allow visitors not only a chance to win a lot of money, but alos a chance to see the 2007 Tigers in action.

&#8220I think we're going to be a lot more physical and we're going to a stronger football team,” Vincent said. &#8220The true test is when we have been in this program for four years.”

Tickets for Thursday night's raffle are still available and can be purchased for $50. For more information, please call Greenville High School at 382-2608.