On Sunday, November 17, the Penn State track and field team will present “Fit for Fritz” – a walk-a-thon dedicated to raising money for assistant coach Fritz Spence, who is currently fighting his second battle with leukemia.

The event will take place at the indoor track in the Multi-Sport Facility, located behind the Bryce Jordan Center. The walk-a-thon begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m. with a final celebration and tailgate. In addition to walking, participants can also take part in circuit exercises and karaoke with members of the track and field team.

Spence, a graduate of Missouri State, began his coaching career at his alma mater where he was part of a coaching staff that captured 14 conference championships. Now entering his eighth season as assistant coach of the Nittany Lions, Fritz has overseen 13 All-Americans, including 2008 4×400 NCAA Champion Gayle Hunter. He was also named the Mid-Atlantic Men’s Outdoor and Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year Award and Women’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2008.

Fritz was first diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, a rare cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, in February of 2008. After successfully battling the disease for five years thanks to a transplant of new white blood cells from his brother, Spence was re-diagnosed this July.

All proceeds from Sunday’s event will go directly to the Fritz Spence Project, a fund created by Spence’s family to help pay for medical bills, pharmaceutical co-pays, and travel expenses. To date, the fund has received $6,000 — close to half of its stated $15,000 goal. If you would like to donate, click here.