SEA GIRT, NJ — When Jamie Garda first visited Mary’s Place by the Sea in December 2017, she was looking for something that had become difficult to find since her breast cancer diagnosis: peace.
Fifteen months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Garda visited the Ocean Grove nonprofit as a day guest. What she found during that first visit stayed with her.
A year later, she returned for an overnight retreat. It was the first time in her life she had traveled somewhere alone.
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For two nights and three days, Garda shared meals and stories with other women staying at Mary’s Place. She also spent time reading a journal in her room containing reflections from women who had stayed there before her.
Garda described the experience as life-changing.
Today, her connection to Mary’s Place by the Sea has evolved from that of a guest to a volunteer helping provide the same sense of comfort and peace to other women facing cancer.
Volunteering was already an important part of Garda's life.
Married for 35 years and the mother of three grown children, Garda spent more than two decades serving on her children's school Home and School Association boards and running a K-8 track program. She also works part-time as a real estate agent.
With her children grown, Garda began looking for a new way to give back.
In November 2019, she returned to Mary's Place—this time as a volunteer in the kitchen.
Her role includes helping prepare plant-based meals for guests staying at the retreat.
“Many of them never take time for themselves,” Garda said. “Others have struggled to enjoy food during treatment. Seeing them finish a meal and join the clean plate club always makes me smile.”
For Garda, the kitchen has become another way to provide care and connection to women navigating cancer treatment and recovery.
Garda's involvement with Mary's Place extends beyond volunteering.
She looks forward to the organization's annual Walk-A-Thon and regularly brings family members and friends to participate alongside her.
Last year, the event carried particular significance. After undergoing a total knee replacement, Garda worked with her physical therapist to train specifically so she could complete the walk.
She ultimately crossed the finish line alongside a friend who had recently been a guest at Mary's Place.
The experience reflected how much Garda's relationship with the organization had changed over the years—from someone seeking support to someone helping provide it to others.
Garda plans to participate in the Walk-A-Thon again this October as registration gets underway.
Her story, from a woman seeking peace following a cancer diagnosis to a volunteer helping create that same sense of peace for others, illustrates the lasting impact of Mary's Place by the Sea's community.
The experience reflected how much Garda's relationship with the organization had changed over the years – from someone seeking support to someone helping others.
The Mary's Place by the Sea 15th Annual Walk-A-Thon and 8th Annual 5K Run takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Ocean Avenue and Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756. Learn more and register: https://www.runsignup.com/marysplacebytheseawalk2026
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