Imagine spending 8 months hiking across the United States. Three people who are doing just that stopped in Parkersburg along the way this morning.

Jodi Harrington, Josh Howell, and Ron Kessler began their journey exactly one month ago on March 1st.

All three of them are hiking for a cause, and that's part of the reason they stopped in at the Parkersburg Alzheimer's Association this morning.

Josh Howell says: "I'm doing this hike for hugs for humanity. I'm trying to hug 1 million people and raise 1 million dollars for the Alzheimer's Association. I wanted to do something that was bigger than myself and I wanted to do it in honor of my mother who's affected by early onset dementia at age 60. She was always a hugger so I'm carrying her hug across the United States."

The three hikers still have thousands of miles to travel. They say meeting a variety of people and seeing new places are some of the favorite parts of their journey.

It will take them another seven months before they reach the end of the American Discovery Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore in California.