AUSTIN, Minn. -- "We're the next generation that's going to be in charge of this community, so showing our support starting now is really important," says Paiton Schwab, co-president of Austin High School's Youth Leadership group.

8 years ago, Youth Leadership students came up with the idea of having a walking and running event to raise money for breast cancer. On Saturday, the tradition continued.

The students were responsible for coordinating the event on Saturday, from contacting businesses for donations, to setting up the course.

Maegan Siebe teaches first grade at Banfield Elementary School and is a breast cancer survivor. She shared her story with the runners and walkers before the race kicked off. "While cancer changed my life entirely, I think I'm still me and that's very much the person that I continued to want to be. It's just something that happened to me."

Siebe is glad to see kids do something in the community with a positive impact. "Unfortunately, a lot of times people, especially kids, don't know people who get better, and they a lot of times think cancer is a very final thing," she explains. "So i think coming out and doing something where they can help support it and make a change and kind of get involved in it helps them understand it more."

Since it's creation, Strides for a Cure has raised $20,000 for breast cancer research. The students' goal is to raise between $2,000 and $2,500 this year.