2 N.J. men walk across U.S. for charity

NUTLEY, N.J., July 3 (UPI) -- Two New Jersey men are walking home to Nutley in an effort to raise money for charity with a cross-country hike.

Rob Bonora and Anthony Greco are now in Arizona after starting in San Diego June 1, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. While they still have thousands of miles to go, they say they have already raised $25,000 towards a goal of $100,000.

"People stop us on the road all the time, asking what we're doing," Bonora said. "Once we explain, they normally give us water, food or money from their wallets to help us on our trip. Everyone we've met along the way has been amazing."

Their intended beneficiaries include Gail's Angels, which raises money for families in which both a mother and child are sick, Derek's Dreams and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Derek's Dreams is a foundation organized by Steve DiGregorio, the high school football coach in Nutley, whose son suffers from a rare genetic disease.

Bonora and Greco use a child's stroller to carry their equipment. That led to one confrontation with a police officer who thought they were pushing a baby along a hot Arizona highway. But the officer quickly turned into a friend who alerted colleagues along their route to help them on their way.