Cancer is a disease that touches nearly every life in some way. Scott Mills had to live it.

The Iowa native survived a diagnosis of lymphoma, and is now looking to make it count. Mills is running across the state, from Muscatine to Council Bluffs, to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The idea was hatched two years ago after Mills had beaten his own battle with cancer.

The Manning native began his run on August 28th and will be running at least one full marathon every day of the trek to cover the 285 miles along Highway 92.

“You can tell me that I’m dying,” said Mills, wearing a shirt seen in the film Forrest Gump. “And I’ll say it’s time to start living.”

Mills, an avid runner and swimmer, was able to continue his workouts while he was being treated in 2011 and 2012. He still has regular check-ins with his doctor, but says he feels great.

He’s been escorted on the trip by Steve Boozer, who has been following him on a bicycle the whole way. Boozer, an Ames firefighter, is a close friend of Mills.

The public can help support the journey by buying t-shirts from Mills. They are $30, with $20 going straight to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. You can order them by emailing Mills at mills1.scott@msn .com. You can also follow Scott’s blog on runitforward.wordpress.com.