While most students may be returning home for a weekend of relaxation with family, Martha Nelson will be preparing for the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon that begins Monday.

Nelson (graduate-biology) is one of five students who have volunteered to run in the Boston Marathon to benefit the Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), 251 Easterly Parkway.

There are also 18 Penn State staff members, faculty and administrators participating in the marathon for CVIM, which provides free medical service for people without insurance in Centre County.

All of the participants have put in a lot of work and miles to get to this point.

"We have been building up miles over the weeks. The key was to get some long runs -- over 20 miles," said Tom Hilands, senior research engineer for the Applied Research Lab.

Nelson, who will be competing in the Boston Marathon for the first time, said it seemed like a "no brainer" to run on behalf of CVIM, because she is doing something that will benefit public health.

Nelson has competed in the New York and Philadelphia marathons, but said Boston will be especially exciting for her.

"My great uncle used to compete in the Boston Marathon, and my grandmother would cheer him on from the sidelines," she said. "Now my grandma, who is 86, will be coming to watch me."

Some participants are looking to accomplish personal time goals, while others are just there for the cause.

"All of us would run the marathon [regardless], but it's really nice to do it for a great cause like CVIM, " Hilands said.

Alison Vernon (graduate-food science) is looking to beat three hours and 15 minutes, but is also there because she thinks CVIM does great work.

"I really like to run for a cause or charity. Any opportunity I have to do that is great," Vernon said.

John Domico, assistant director of academic and research computing at Penn State, who first planned and organized the event, became acquainted with CVIM at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister St.

"The seed for the clinic was planted, and some people there really took the idea and grew it," Domico said.

He wanted to help, but didn't know where to begin, he said.

"I didn't have a background in the medical profession to draw from, nor did I have the money to finance such a project, but I still had my determination," he said.

Domico was inspired by the many student-run 5K events held on campus. He realized he could use running to raise money, and thus the idea was born to have students race in the Boston Marathon to raise funds for CVIM.

"My goal is just to raise public awareness and money along the way," he said.

Nelson said her previous running group, The Cook Street Club -- a group of her high-school friends -- along with her parents and brother, will be attending the marathon to support her.

"[The Cook Street Club] got me to run my first marathon, and now I'm addicted," she said.

For family and friends who cannot attend, the Boston Marathon offers an online-tracking service, which will send an e-mail message to family members when the runner crosses the finish line.

Kendra Yoder, a faculty member of Penn State's Graduate School Alumni Society, will leave her bib number with her children, so they can check on her progress.

"Even though people can't be there, they can still cheer for you -- it's neat," Yoder said.

Domico said he is always looking for more participants for next year's marathon.

He said one incentive is that running the Boston Marathon is the number of calories burned, which means that "after the race, you can eat like a pig."