After viewing the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, two students decided to lace up their running shoes and race for the coast.

Nate Scott (senior-landscape architecture) and Owen Snell (senior-landscape architecture) have created Run For The Coast, a nonprofit service project to benefit 8 Days of Hope, a faith-based organization that rebuilds homes for people along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The pair plans to raise $20,000 for 8 Days of Hope by competing in the Steamtown Marathon Oct. 8.

During his service work in Bay St. Louis, Miss., Scott was inspired to do more for the devastated region. When Scott told Snell about his trip, they agreed to challenge themselves by creating Run for the Coast.

"We wanted a goal that was hard to get. If I wanted to make $1,000, I could have sold Girl Scout cookies," Scott said.

Not only is this goal monetarily ambitious for the duo, but it's also a physically ambitious one. "The most I ever did was a 5-mile race," Snell said. "Twenty-six miles is tough, but it's nothing compared to having everything you own being wiped away."

With less than a month until race day, they have raised more than $3,000. "There is a lot to be done, but not everyone has to go down to lend a hand," Snell said.

The team will present the donation when participating in 8 Days of Hope this December. "I can't even imagine how it's going to hit me. I am excited to talk to people and see how they are managing," Snell said of his upcoming trip.

Emile Rochon (senior-biobehavioral health), evacuated New Orleans the day before Hurricane Katrina, but has gone back to visit. "It is unimaginable -- in some parts, you would think the hurricane hit last week," she said.

Scott participated in hurricane relief work for 8 Days of Hope last summer.

"I feel like I gained so much more from the experience than I gave away," he said.

More than 1,100 volunteers visited the Gulf Coast area last June to rebuild 202 homes, Steve Tybor III, director of 8 Days of Hope, said. Twenty-five percent of the volunteers were college students.

"Students are so passionate about the needs of this country. That excites me because that is our country's leadership tomorrow," Tybor said.

Volunteering involves gutting walls, rewiring, dry walling, flooring, painting and roofing. The process could cost $5,000 to $10,000 per house, he said. He explained that every dollar donated goes directly to supplies for renovation. Volunteers pay for travel themselves.

Those who would like to contribute can go to http://www.personal.psu.edu/njs181/.

"Don't ever feel like what you have isn't enough to contribute -- if everyone just gave $1 that's $40,000--that is double our goal," Scott said.