Nutley Residents Walk 3,000 Miles for Cancer

After almost 3,000 miles of walking, they just wanted a slice of New Jersey-style pizza.

Rob Bonora and Anthony Greco, two Nutley residents and recent Montclair State University graduates, started walking May 30 in San Diego to Nutley to help support and raise cash for the Gail's Angels Foundation. The nonprofit organization helps families with a mother stricken by breast cancer and a child with special needs.

Greco said they managed to support themselves during the walk through help of friends, family supporters and sponsors, including U.S. Trust, who donated $7,000, and New Balance, who donated sneakers and other apparel. 

They stopped Thursday at Fortissimo Osteria Pizzeria on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange on their way to Nutley.

"Just walking with everybody is awesome," said Greco. "We have our best friends and it's just great to share this with everyone."

Greco said they've been on the road for four months and can't wait to reach home around 5 p.m. Thursday in Nutley.

"It's a long day every day, but we're best friends and we're able to get through it and it helps to have someone there to push you along," he said. "The first two months were really rough, but the last two have been good as the (hot) weather calmed down a bit."

The initiative, known as Coast to Coast for a Cure, took Greco and Bonora through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

"It's been a lot tougher than I imagined, but it's been very rewarding and we met a lot of great people," said Bonora. "People have helped us out throughout the whole country and it was scary in the beginning, but we got over some speed bumps."

Greco said they started with minimal equipment and quickly realized they needed more.

"We started backpacking, which was pretty rough, but then we switched over to the baby strollers after the first two weeks and since then, it's just gotten easier," said Greco. "But, we were just getting across the country and trying to survive."

Greco said the idea behind Coast for a Cure started with Bonora when the two were trying to figure out a way to raise money for a cause and also vacation.

"It was an idea about a year ago and we put our heads together and thought what we wanted to do for charity and this is what we came up with," he said. "We really didn't hesitate, which was the biggest thing because people say they're going to do things like this and just back down."

Bonora said he's an avid health fan and the idea of walking across the country for a cause was a good idea.

"I'm into health and fitness and working out, so I thought it would be kind of like raise-money-like vacation to see the country," he said. 

Greco said their goal is to raise $100,000, but they've netted about $65,000 so far. He said he doesn't know if any large donations are planned once the walk is complete.

After the two entered Morristown on Friday, several Nutley residents joined them.

Dr. Donna Pontoriero, a chiropractor in Nutley, said she watched the kids walk across country and decided to join them Thursday in Morristown for their final stretch.

"I thought it would be a good idea to walk the last 22 miles with them," she said. "An applause to these kids ... I couldn't have done it."

The crowd of about 20 picked up Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. in Livingston Thursday afternoon while walking the final route to Nutley. DiVincenzo donated $1,000 to Bonora and Greco.

"These kids are role models for everyone and it's nice to see them back home," said DiVincenzo, who's from Nutley. "My kids know both these guys and I think it's great and to have such young people walk across the country for such a great cause as breast cancer, I think it speaks for itself."

Mike Fazzini, 15, of Nutley, said he's been close friends with Greco since he was Fazzini's babysitter.

"I think this is a good thing and I'm glad he did it," said Fazzini. "It's good for him."

Joe Piro, the athletic director at Nutley High School who also coached both Greco and Bonora, said he walked the last few miles with the two for moral support.

"I had (family) with cancer and it's the right thing to do," said Piro. "These guys always supported us as teachers and athletes in our programs."

Bonora said after the walk is over Thursday, he just wants to relax.

"It's kind of surreal and somewhat numb right now because I just want to see my house and my bed," he said.