Last year when Ari Mannis suggested a skateboarding trip across the United States as a fundraiser for Club Xcite, where he works in Solana Beach as a mentor for struggling kids, club president Stefan Hochfilzer deemed the idea impossible.

But on Monday, Mannis and his team will embark on Skate Across the USA. They plan to go from San Diego to Newport, Ore., where they will begin their skateboard journey to New York City. The group will skate relay style, and plan to finish the trek in less than 30 days.

Mannis, who lives in Rancho Santa Fe, said the team hopes to raise $20,000 for Club Xcite and San Diego Youth Services by the end of the journey through donations from individuals and groups, as well as T-shirt sales and proceeds from a documentary they plan to make of the journey.

"I want to help kids who need a mentor, but can't afford it," he said.

The nonprofit Club Xcite provides one-on-one mentors for children with learning disabilities and behavioral challenges, and has been providing these services to San Diego Youth Services since 2007. San Diego Youth Services is a nonprofit that helps homeless young people and kids in crisis, with more than 40 programs in 15 branches across San Diego County.

The skateboarding group consists of Mannis, 20, John Andrews, 20, Dahnny Levine, 19, Mark Juvinall, 20, and Hochfilzer, 28.

"We want to help support at risk youth and give them one-on-one support," said Hochfilzer.

"Our mentoring is two to three times a week, and we help the children with their goals," Hochfilzer said.

He added that programs that help at-risk children can have a two-year waiting list, and some only meet once every two weeks.

"Mentoring can change kid's lives," said Mannis, who plans to attend UC Santa Cruz next year.

Sponsors have provided the riders with specially made boards from Subsonic Skateboards in Portland that are used for long-distance riding.

"It's great that the group is young, 19 and 20, which is the same age as lot of the kids that we help," said Jessica DeMarinis, marketing and development for San Diego Youth Services.

Mannis said that with each participant skating around 30 miles a day, totaling around 150 miles per day, the 2,896 mile trip can be completed in 19 days.

The skaters will be traveling in a Chevy Suburban when they are not skating, and staying at camp sites at night.

To donate to Skate Across the USA or find out more about the trek, visit < a href="http://www.skateacrossusa.com">www.skateacrossusa.com.

Call staff writer Carly Hill at 760-901-4080.