Two WSU students are making a 3,000 mile trek across the U.S. to raise funds for children with cancer and autism.

Sophomores Cameron Coupe and Zan Roman are dedicating five months to a trek on foot from Seattle, Wash. to New York to benefit the Seattle Children’s Hospital through donations, according to the website “Walk for Seattle Children’s Hospital” created by Coupe and Roman.

“Over the course of the next five months I look to prove to myself and those close to me that people are essentially good at heart and will do the right thing if given a chance,” Coupe wrote on his blog. “The Journey East.”

Donations to the hospital can be contributed on Coupe and Roman’s website. It is an official fundraiser endorsed by Seattle Children’s.

Half of the donation proceeds go to the hospital for parents who cannot afford their children’s care, and the other half supports autism research at Seattle Children’s.

Coupe’s 7-year-old cousin died after battling two bouts of cancer in 2006, and Roman’s older brother is autistic.

The pair began their journey on May 15 from the hospital and plan to arrive in New York City in October.

They were given a tour of Montana’s capitol building in Helena and were interviewed by local news stations on June 17, according to their Facebook page “Walk for Seattle Children’s.” They also met Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch and Deputy Secretary of State Jane Demaray.

Public updates are posted on their blog, Facebook and website, the last being done on June 17.

Coupe and Roman were unavailable for comment. They have mentioned difficulty with cellular service throughout their journey on Facebook.  

They are carrying their belongings in carts commonly pulled by bicycles and travel by longboards when the road allows it.

The two sleep in a tent off of the road or in welcoming strangers’ backyards. Their diet primarily consists of all-you-can-eat buffets and canned food.

Coupe and Roman have met a variety of characters on their journey so far, ranging from people questioning if they have infants in their carts to strangers welcoming them into their homes for a meal and a chance to do laundry.

They decided to set out on the journey at this time due to a lack of responsibilities at their young age.

“It seems that some have forgotten the true meaning of life, which is to live and find happiness in everything you can,” Coupe wrote on his blog. “To adventure and create memories that can never be forgotten.”