Walking for a cause
Diners tucking into their pumpkin soufflé at Bernardsville’s elegant Bernards Inn might glimpse Diane Carr, the general manager, walking around the landmark hostelry. But they might not know this zippy blonde mother of two grown children is used to walking 60 miles in one weekend to aid breast cancer research, education and treatment. Diane has accomplished this considerable feat (no pun) six times, in addition to enthusiastically participating in other breast cancer running and walking fundraisers.

You obviously have a ton of energy and a talent for management. People in the Morris-Somerset area remember your annual Dinner of Hope that helped 12 children’s charities and raised more than $4,000,000 total. How did you go from working for worthy causes with your brain, hands and cell phone to fighting cancer with your feet?
My son Michael is a cancer survivor who went to Delbarton School in Morristown. While he was there, I had the good fortune to meet Tracy Day, the wife of a Delbarton teacher. Tracy was battling breast cancer. She became a dear and close friend to our family. She was my inspiration. After she died, I wanted to do this in her honor.

My aunt also contracted breast cancer, so my husband, Steve, and I decided we’d get seriously involved in the fundraising races. We do some of the events together. We wanted to show we weren’t too old, but we discovered there is no “too old.” All ages take part, from teens to octogenarians.

Then, too, there was a lovely woman, Kathleen Miller, who got married right here at the Bernards Inn. She had cancer and has since passed away. She was another inspiration to me.

What’s it like to take part in a 60-mile walk? Besides tiring, that is.
Actually it’s very inspirational. You meet all kinds of people from all over the place, women in treatment, relatives, friends, successful survivors, men too. The 3-Day walk benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust. It’s held in 15 or more different cities every year. You choose your city. Sometimes just Steve and I go. Last year our 10-person New Jersey team went to San Diego; this year, Boston. I’ve also been to Philadelphia. Thousands of people show up at each 3-Day, but there’s a wonderful spirit. It’s tiring, sure, but it’s lots of fun. It’s just an amazing experience.

It also sounds like an amazingly gigantic organizational challenge. How does it work?
They set up a big centrally located campsite. A few people stay at motels but most of us sleep in tents at the camp and pray for good weather. A little hardship is nothing compared to what people with cancer have to go through. There are dining areas, first aid stations, shower and sink trucks, a 3-Day Café for socializing. Local medical people volunteer their services as first aiders. I was impressed by the many wonderful volunteers at all these events.

They feed you a big breakfast at 6 a.m. and you’re out by 8:30. Every four or five miles there’s grab-and-go food like fruit and muffins. You walk about 15 to 25 miles a day. You get a map so you don’t get lost. The route is well marked and they try to make it scenic and interesting; you experience the city. Along the way there are rest and water stations, cops on bikes and people to help you. They serve you a carb and protein lunch. It’s all very organized.
 
To find out how you can get involved, read the entire interview in the latest issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine. Click here to get one free bonus issue and save more than 80% on a subscription.