GOFFSTOWN, N.H. (AP) -Two dozen Saint Anselm College students took the long way to get to school.

They arrived on campus Saturday after walking eight days and 130 miles from Lewiston, Maine. The students were retracing the steps of alumnus Seamus Griesbach, who made the walk nine years ago.

Now, it’s a fundraiser for nine charities. Each student must collect at least $500 from businesses and parishes in their community. This year, they expect to exceed the $17,000 raised last year.

In all, the Road for Hope program has given more than $130,000 to charity.

The 27 students were shadowed by two vans, manned by EMTs and other supporters ready to hand out water, give someone a ride or administer first aid.

At night, the students camped out, stayed in church basements or visited some of the charities they were supporting.

One of the high points, according to Sarah Raabis, a walk leader, was their layover at the Saint Charles Children’s Home in Rochester, where students had dinner and played with children who had been abandoned or abused.

The students walked about eight hours a day, wearing 40-pound backpacks.

Road for Hope may be a physical challenge, but Dan Cushman, another walk leader, said his preparation focused more on building his will than his muscles. “Everyone can walk, basically,” he said. “It’s really a mental thing.”

Students said they motivated themselves by walking for a loved one. Cushman chose his grandmother, Marjorie Smith, who died in May.

“I said at the beginning, ‘I’m doing this for my grandmother, so I’m going to keep going,”‘ Cushman said.

Walker Meg Wood finished the walk on crutches, after aggravating an old running injury four days into the walk.

Wood stuck with the group, riding alongside in the van and helping prepare meals and lodging. On the final day, she hopped out and walked the final stretch on her crutches.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com

AP-ES-08-26-07 1218EDT