Faculty, students and staff at Slippery Rock University are proceeding on foot to Afghanistan this semester.

Not literally, of course.

Those participating in the Walk to Afghanistan program this semester will keep track of the number of steps they take using a pedometer.

Teams will try to walk as many miles it takes to get to Afghanistan.

“It's 7,000 miles from Slippery Rock University to Afghanistan,” said Kim Smith, a professor of exercise and rehabilitative science.

The goal of the program is to increase wellness while supporting soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.

Bob Watson, interim vice president for student affairs, has a daughter who is married to a soldier who is deployed to Afghanistan.

At Fort Riley, Kan., where his daughter lives, she started a walk on weekends to promote wellness as well as allow family members to chat. Watson felt the idea could be applied to SRU's commitment to wellness, so he took the idea to Smith.

“She took the ball and ran with it,” Watson said.

Three years ago, SRU started the 10,000 Steps program, which encouraged faculty, staff and students to walk 10,000 steps per day, about five miles, for a 12-week period each semester.

This semester, SRU decided to include Walk to Afghanistan into 10,000 Steps rather than have a separate program.

Smith said that 98 percent of the people in the 10,000 Steps program said they would do Walk to Afghanistan.

During previous incarnations of 10,000 Steps, the largest number of participants was 264. When Walk to Afghanistan began, that number increased to 360.

Smith said she finds that many people will not walk for themselves, but will walk for a cause.

There are 10 teams with 36 people on each team, representing the 36 people in the platoon that Watson's son-in-law is in.

Halfway through the program, all of the teams are on track.

“All 10 teams are past 3,500 miles,” Smith said.

After hearing about the program, SRU President Cheryl Norton suggested that, once the walkers figuratively are in Afghanistan, they should walk back.

“Nobody I know wants to be stuck in Afghanistan,” Smith said.

So, next semester, the program will continue with the same mileage goal.

Teams also are collecting items and letters of encouragement to send to the platoon as well as an SRU alumnus who is serving in Afghanistan.

Additionally, teams are raising money to pay for the shipping materials.

During the first fundraising drive in October, the program raised $120 and enough items to fill six shipping boxes. A second drive took place this month and a third will be in December.

Anyone interested in donating money to the program can make a check out to the SRU Foundation with Walk To Afghanistan in the subject line and mail it to Slippery Rock University, 302 Old Main, 1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

Items or letters can be dropped off at 302 Old Main.