For many, walking is just a great way to stay in shape. But a Ball State University student has combined his fitness routine with a heartfelt mission .

Almost two years after Hurricane Katrina, Ben Poor is making strides to continue aiding the victims in New Orleans. He's reminding the country that there's still work to be done, and today he took a breather in Bowling Green's Fountain Square Park to talk about his cause.

Twenty-year-old Ben Poor isn't just walking for the exercise. Packed only with the essentials, he's traveling from Indianapolis to New Orleans by foot to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"I said to myself, what am I doing with my life this summer? I was planning on doing a normal summer job like any regular college student, but I thought, why not do something special?” Poor said.

Ben's plan is to donate all proceeds from his two month walk to Emergency Communities, an organization responsible for supplying 300,000 pounds of food to Katrina victims in New Orleans. It's a cause Ben strongly believes in.

"It seems like America has swept Katrina under the rug, but the place is still devastated by the Hurricane. These people are still suffering and they're our brothers and our sisters so we need to help out," Poor explained.

With 160 miles down and 650 more to go, Ben is taking the weight off his feet in Bowling Green to update his journal. Among the things to write about is the fact his walk has just generated $4,000, twice his original goal for the entire trip. It's this support that's kept Ben going strong.

"Hopefully, people are inspired by what I’m doing and they'll join up and donate and maybe even walk along with me some of the way. I really hope that's what happens," Poor said.

Since doubling his original goal for donations, Ben has set the new goal for his walk at $10,000. To make a donation to Ben’s cause, visit his website by clicking here.