John Domico knows a good cause when he sees one.

Sure, there are many charities out there asking for a piece of everyone's time and money. But Domico knew there was something different about Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), a group that provides medical services to the uninsured and underinsured at its Easterly Parkway clinic.

The thing was, Domico didn't know what to do.

"I didn't have a good fit: I didn't have a medical background and my professional life isn't in medicine," he said.

So Domico, assistant director of information technology and instructor at the College of Engineering, married charitable giving and one of his long-time passions -- running.

Domico's decision to run the 2003 Boston Marathon, one of the world's most prestigious marathons, to raise money for the local clinic has led to an annual fund-raising drive that is one of CVIM's main sources of giving.

This year's third annual CVIM Boston Marathon Challenge involves 20 runners who come from all segments of the Penn State community: faculty, staff, alumni and, of course, students.

They will be at the starting line for the 26.2-mile race when the starter's gun fires at noon on Monday.

Eight Penn State-related runners participated in the challenge last year and raised more than $15,000 for CVIM, Domico said. The target for this year's challenge is $20,000.

Celeste Newcomb, the CVIM clinic's executive director, said it costs about $30,000 to provide one month's worth of services.

"We've already got $10,000 in pledges and donations," Domico said.

The participating runners said that CVIM is an easy cause to get behind, because of its universal appeal.

Many of the runners have either lacked health insurance for a brief period or know people who have. They realize the important role CVIM holds in the community.

Kim DeNovellis, Class of 2002 and a former standout track and cross-country runner at Penn State, remembers being without insurance for several months after graduating from college.

"Luckily enough, I had my mother able to help me," she said. "If I had been in another situation, it would have been very hard for me. I identify with anyone who doesn't have health insurance."

Megan Kiczek is running on the challenge team for the second year in a row.

She joined the effort last year when she found out about Domico's team, while she was serving as a volunteer assistant track coach at State College Area High School.

One of the team's runners had a parent taking part, inspiring Kiczek to sign on for the race.

"If I can use my hobby and passion of running as a means to raise money to help others in the community who turn to Centre Volunteers In Medicine for help, I feel that I am making each mile a whole lot more meaningful," she said in an e-mail message.

Kendra Yoder, a staff assistant in The Graduate School Alumni and Public Relations office, ran a marathon for the first time last fall, when she took part in Scranton's Steamtown Marathon.

Yoder, a long-time runner, was on the fence about going through another marathon experience. Hearing about the CVIM Boston Marathon Challenge eliminated any doubts.

"It sort of solidified my decision to do it," she said. "Training for [Boston] has been through the winter. That sort of has a way of making people have second thoughts about having people go through with it."

Nonetheless, Yoder's not quitting.

The group gets together each Thursday for a brief workout, and many of the runners train together, as well. Some of the Challenge participants, including Domico, also belong to the Nittany Valley Running Club.

The companionship and the cause are big factors in preventing runners from dropping out.

"When you start to get tired around mile 20, 21 [on race day], it's nice to know that they're other people doing it and going through it," Yoder said.

DeNovellis said the donors also play a role in keeping her going.

She is currently a corporate dietician for Super Bakery, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based company that produces nutritional bakery products. Former Penn State running backs Franco Harris, an owner, and Lydell Mitchell, national sales manager, hold prominent roles with Super Bakery and have made pledges to the Challenge.

"It's amazing when people find out you're running [Boston]. They ask about it and I'm able to tell them about the CVIM group," DeNovellis said. "It's a good opener for that."

In addition to the runners, there are other prominent Penn Staters lending their names to the cause. Football coach Joe Paterno is the team's honorary head coach; his wife, Sue, is the honorary women's coach; and Greg Fredericks, a former Olympian and world-record holder who ran at Penn State in the 1970s, is the honorary men's coach.

Fredericks, currently a network administrator for the university's applied research laboratories, is generally cautious about lending his name for charity events.

"I'm sort of guarded about what type of things I come out in support of," he said. "This is an extremely worthwhile endeavor. They have a lot of great people involved, not just raising money but working there and volunteering there."

The role of students in the Challenge can't be underrated.

Domico said the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Council Dance Marathon was a major inspiration when he first decided to run Boston for CVIM.

"I just followed the great example set by the Penn State students with the Dance Marathon," he said.

Fredericks, who never left State College after attending Penn State, said he is pleased that students who don't have any ties to the community are willing to give back to it.

"There's a large contingent of students who are participating in this Marathon Challenge," he said. "You look at it and go, 'What a tremendous endeavor on the part of these individuals.'

"Most of these students are going to be here around four or five years. Most of the people who come here get their education and move on. They don't have a strong tie to help the individuals that live here."

Kiczek said she feels compelled to give back.

"Penn State is a big place," she said. "The more involved you are, the smaller it feels. The same goes for the community around us; get involved in the community and State College begins to feel more like home."

Those interested in making a donation to the CVIM Boston Marathon Challenge may contact John Domico at 865-3757 or domico@cse.psu.edu.