The South Forsyth High School band is taking it to the streets from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday during its fourth annual March-A-Thon fundraiser.

The 6-mile march begins at Target on Hwy. 141, travels Old Atlanta Road through the Laurel Springs subdivision and ends at the St. Marlo subdivision.

"It gets really hard," said senior Caroline Khameneh, who will march with a drum strapped to her shoulders. "It's tough, but it's a lot of fun anyway."

The 17-year-old drum major, in the event for the fourth straight year, said that other band-related activities have conditioned her.

"After you survive something like band camp, anything's possible," she said.

Band director Paul Clark plans to join the group of about 130 students on the journey.

"It's always helpful for them to see their leader out there," said Clark, adding that students will be taking water breaks along the way.

Clark said he gets 100 percent participation from the band.

"Pretty much everybody gets involved," Clark said. "We consider it a regular performance they should attend."

Clark said 6 miles is a long way, but his students fare well.

"Most everybody stays in it to the end," he said.

Khameneh said students "just collapse" when they reach the end of the march.

"It's like, 'Oh my gosh, I finally made it,'" she said.

Students look forward to the march, Khameneh said.

"We all get really into it," she said. "I think everybody enjoys doing it."

Along with students, parents will be walking in step with the band, toting buckets so that passing motorists can make donations to help support the band program.

Law enforcement escorts will trail the band to slow traffic and ensure everyone's safety along the way, Clark said.

The school's band members have been collecting donations for about two weeks.

Khameneh said she and others have been going around to neighborhoods asking for donation-per-mile sponsorships and contributions.