An estimated 3,000 runners will join a mission Saturday to change the lives of Gwinnett County's youth, and they may not even know it.

That's because Young Life, a faith-based nonprofit organization founded in 1941, is one of two organizations benefiting from Run the Reagan. The race, which takes place February 18 in Snellville, raises much-needed funds for both Young Life and Gwinnett Community Clinic.

Last year, organizers said some $30,000 was raised, and half went to Young Life. The money then goes on to help Young Life continue reaching children in their walk toward Christ.

"A lot of people don't even know that Young Life and Gwinnett Clinic put it on," said Abby Brown, a staff associate with Young Life, which meets at Grace Fellowship Church in Snellville. "They just think they're running a half-marathon, or a 5K, or a 10K."

Four local schools -- Brookwood High in Snellville, Parkview High and Trickum Middle in Lilburn and now Grayson High in Grayson -- have established or emerging Young Life programs. Three staff members, along with volunteers, lead the initiatives.

Brown said leading youth in this way is something she knew she'd always do.

"I felt called to present Jesus Christ to high school kids," said Brown, 23. "And, I love the way Young Life allows me to be myself in (sharing) the gospel, and really getting with kids on their level and being vulnerable with them and honest with my story, and not acting like I have it all together. Because nobody does."

An estimated 200 students attend Young Life weekly. Leaders say they know about 400-500 youth in total. The regular close-knit group fits Young Life's model, said Tim Carley, area director.

"It's not designed to be the big kid on the street," he said. "Our goal is to know them, know their name, know their story."

Also unlike other programs, Young Life isn't about thumping Bibles at kids or scaring them with talk of souls lost to hell. It's about meeting the youth where they are, being a constant role model, and through that, becoming someone who can then speak truth into their lives.

It was a blueprint set by the founder and youth pastor Jim Rayburn, who believed that being a part of the lives of children -- not preaching down to them -- was the key to outreach. Now, there's a saying that the Young Life leaders "earn the right to be heard."

"We get to know kids to get to know kids," said Carley, 30. "And, then once a relationship is established, the words that we say hold a lot more weight to them because they know that we are a consistent presence in their lives."

It doesn't matter what religious -- or non-religious -- background that a child comes from, Carley added. "God meets them right where they're at, and that's what we try to do, without judgment."

Mike Muller volunteers with Young Life as an area committee chair, and has four children who have also helped out or participated. He's committed to helping the ministry, in part, because it emphasizes the kind of morals and values he wants his children to have.

"They truly care about the people that they're trying to reach, and I think kids recognize that and respect it," he said.

Some of the youth "are one bad decision away" from devastating outcomes, Muller added. Then, Young Life steps in, and they do it even as they work with a very tight budget, he said.

Even if he weren't volunteering currently and he just heard about it today, Muller said he'd still say "sign me up."

"I try to do for them a little bit of what they do for the kids," he said.

Both Carley and Brown say they couldn't do their work without the help of volunteers like Muller. Their volunteers -- including friends and family -- also lend their hands on the weekend of the race.

In the future, Young Life hopes to grow its ministry (specifically Grayson High and more middle schools), attract more parents and volunteers, and of course, raise more money and in-kind donations.

They also hope that Run the Reagan grows to at least 5,000 participants. With that kind of draw, the organization would be better able to spread the word about what they are doing in the lives of children.

Ultimately, organizers agree it's about relationships -- growing them and maintaining them.

"That's our approach to kids, that's our approach to adults in the community, that's the approach to donors," Carley said. "We're meeting them as if we're going to know them for the rest of our lives."

To volunteer, donate or learn more about Young Life Southern Gwinnett, click here.

To register or learn more about Run the Reagan, click here.