diff --git a/contracts/storage_heavy/README.md b/contracts/storage_heavy/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c3c41079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/storage_heavy/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Storage-heavy contract
+
+This contract provides storage-cost benchmarks for persistent and temporary
+Soroban entries, including batch access and compact boolean representations.
+
+## Keeping persistent entries alive
+
+Any account can extend a persistent entry's lifetime by invoking:
+
+```text
+extend_ttl(key, threshold, extend_to)
+```
+
+The entry is extended to `extend_to` ledgers only when its remaining lifetime
+is below `threshold`. The function requires no authorization so the invoker can
+pay the network rent on behalf of the entry owner. The key must already exist
+in persistent storage; temporary entries are intentionally not affected.
diff --git a/contracts/storage_heavy/src/lib.rs b/contracts/storage_heavy/src/lib.rs
index b7571f71..18a1525e 100644
--- a/contracts/storage_heavy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/storage_heavy/src/lib.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ impl StorageHeavyContract {
             .unwrap_or(Bytes::new(&env))
     }
 
+    /// Extends the lifetime of a persistent storage entry.
+    ///
+    /// The TTL is changed to `extend_to` ledgers only when its current value is
+    /// below `threshold`. This method intentionally requires no authorization,
+    /// allowing any caller to pay the network rent needed to keep an entry
+    /// available.
+    pub fn extend_ttl(env: Env, key: Symbol, threshold: u32, extend_to: u32) {
+        env.storage()
+            .persistent()
+            .extend_ttl(&key, threshold, extend_to);
+    }
     /// Batch-write to persistent storage.
     /// Demonstrates the cost of N separate ledger-entry writes.
     pub fn batch_write_persistent(env: Env, keys: Vec<Symbol>, data_points: Vec<Bytes>) {
diff --git a/contracts/storage_heavy/src/test.rs b/contracts/storage_heavy/src/test.rs
index d7ff5701..c265f08a 100644
--- a/contracts/storage_heavy/src/test.rs
+++ b/contracts/storage_heavy/src/test.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 extern crate std;
 
 use super::*;
-use soroban_sdk::{symbol_short, Bytes, Env, Vec, Symbol};
+use soroban_sdk::{
+    symbol_short,
+    testutils::{storage::Persistent as _, Ledger as _, LedgerInfo},
+    Bytes, Env, Symbol, Vec,
+};
 use std::println;
 
 
@@ -27,6 +31,52 @@ fn test_storage() {
     assert_eq!(client.read_temporary(&key), data_bytes);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_extend_ttl_for_persistent_entry() {
+    let env = Env::default();
+    env.ledger().set(LedgerInfo {
+        timestamp: 0,
+        protocol_version: 22,
+        sequence_number: 1,
+        network_id: Default::default(),
+        base_reserve: 10,
+        min_temp_entry_ttl: 10,
+        min_persistent_entry_ttl: 10,
+        max_entry_ttl: 10_000,
+    });
+
+    let contract_id = env.register(StorageHeavyContract, ());
+    let client = StorageHeavyContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
+    let key = symbol_short!("data");
+    let data = Bytes::from_slice(&env, &[1, 2, 3]);
+
+    client.write_persistent(&key, &data);
+    let initial_ttl = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || env.storage().persistent().get_ttl(&key));
+    let extended_ttl = initial_ttl + 1_000;
+
+    client.extend_ttl(&key, &(initial_ttl + 1), &extended_ttl);
+
+    let ttl = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || env.storage().persistent().get_ttl(&key));
+    assert_eq!(ttl, extended_ttl);
+    assert_eq!(client.read_persistent(&key), data);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_extend_ttl_respects_threshold() {
+    let env = Env::default();
+    let contract_id = env.register(StorageHeavyContract, ());
+    let client = StorageHeavyContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
+    let key = symbol_short!("data");
+    let data = Bytes::from_slice(&env, &[1, 2, 3]);
+
+    client.write_persistent(&key, &data);
+    let initial_ttl = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || env.storage().persistent().get_ttl(&key));
+
+    client.extend_ttl(&key, &(initial_ttl - 1), &(initial_ttl + 1_000));
+
+    let ttl = env.as_contract(&contract_id, || env.storage().persistent().get_ttl(&key));
+    assert_eq!(ttl, initial_ttl);
+}
 #[test]
 fn test_batch_storage() {
     let env = Env::default();