Watch CBS News

Temple Grad To Pay Off Loans With 1,000 Mile Run

By Chelsea Karnash

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Temple University graduate saddled with more than $30,000 in student loans is now selling his body to pay them off.

But not in the way you're thinking.

Twenty-three-year-old Jason Kasher, who finished at Temple with a degree in marketing in 2012, has found a unique way to pay off his debt.

Kasher, who did get a job after college but didn't feel it was what he ultimately wanted to do, has decided to run 1,000 miles all over the country, acting as a human billboard for paid advertisers.

He's calling the project "Paid to Run," and he's estimated that it will take him about six months to pay off his loans.

The process is relatively simple: Interested advertisers visit the Paid to Run website, check the calendar for available dates, click the link to "Buy A Run" and then pay via PayPal. A "day" is six miles, and runs start at $1 per mile and increase by $1 per day for the remaining 183 days. Special requests will be honored when possible.

And Kasher's not only in it for himself: Two days, Christmas and October 1st, will be auctioned off, with 50% of the proceeds going towards CHOP on Dec. 25th and 50% donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation on Oct. 1st. Kasher also says he plans to run in the Komen 3-Day Race for the Cure in October, and he'll be auctioning those three days off as well.

So far, Kasher says he's "on pace to have the first two weeks booked in the next couple of days," which should bring his fundraising to about $600. He begins his journey in Florida on Sept. 1st, 2013.

For more information on "Paid to Run" or to purchase a run, visit: www.paidtorun.com

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.