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QUINCY, ILL. -- Many people donate money to help find a cure for cancer, but two college grads are raising money a little differently.  They have decided to canoe for a cure, down the Mississippi River.

Aaron Drendel and Jake Mullins started their trip down the Mississippi May 29th. With nothing but what they could fit in their canoe, they began the trip of a lifetime: from Lake Itasca, MN all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico... 2,320 miles down stream. Almost a month into their trip and the boys are not even halfway done. But they both say, it's worth it.

"It was just an adventure to start with and then we decided to make it into a fundraiser. We'd seen some other kids our age that have done a good job and raise a lot of money so we picked a cause and went with it," Mullins said.

They've been eating oatmeal, dried noodles, and melted chocolate protein bars -- staying in tents and sleeping bags.

"We've been camping on shore on islands, campgrounds, whatever we can find that's public land pretty much. We've met a few people along the way that have let us stay at their place so that's always nice," Drendel said.

They've been averaging about 40 miles a day, traveling at close to 5 miles an hour. The recent rainfall has impacted their trip, but not the way you might think.

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"We've been seeing the flood as it's been coming down south actually and really it's sped up the current for us paddling. It's made it quicker. It's a little more dangerous because we see trees floating by us, things like that, but it sped it up for us and its starting to receed now so it should be alright," Drendel said.

Once they hit St. Louis, the current speeds up. The boys hope to average around 70 miles a day. It's been hard.

"We're on the water for 12-14 hours so it gets hot, we get tired, we get sore," said Mullins.

But...

"We're having fun - the trip has its highs and lows but really the friends and family at home that are giving the support. The companies that have donated is really what's made this all happen and we really appreciate all that," Drendel said.

The boys hope to make it down to the Gulf by July 20th.