Quilt Brings to Mind 35 Years of Fundraising Runs

Montgomery Road resident Charles Clark can look back on his 35 years of participation in the 10K races held each June to benefit the University Medical Center of Princeton (now with the added "at Plainsboro") and recall many details—such as his best times, or the themes of the accompanying "fetes" that were held.

And should he forget, he can look at the collection of shirts from each of the events that he saved—and that his wife, Cindy, used to create a quilt.

Clark, 78, is a retired gastroenterologist and internist and said he always preached the importance of exercise to his patients, and for him, running has been a favorite exercise.

"I participated and completed all 35 of the Princeton Health races—except 1982," Dr. Clark said. "I saved all the shirts and for some reason, Cindy (his wife) made them into a quilt."

Ms. Clark objected a bit at that, noting there was a clear reason why the shirts would make a nice quilt: each year's T-shirt design features artwork by Princeton artist Faitfax Hutter.

Though she said she hadn't made many quilts, Ms. Clark does paint and sculpt. She recognized the shirt's art could be used to create an attractive spread. She said she began by grouping some of the various animal-themed designs, then sorted the remaining designs by color.

Sunday, Dr. Clark will run in this year's Community Connection of Princeton HealthCare 10K, as the event is now known, which also includes the Princeton Kids Marathon Race Day—which Dr. and Mrs. Clark started in the 1970s.

"It later became a part of the fete," he said.

He predicted two things for his particpation: first, that he would finish; and second, that it would take him about three times as long as it did when he ran it in 1978.

More than 300 runners are registered to run Sunday, but only a handful can look back on all of the races held—and only one will be able to wrap himself in those memories.