by Davy James, Staff Writer
Sometimes it holds true that the biggest hearts are often found in the smallest of bodies. Jill Grzelak, 9, of Kendall Park, is a living example of that.
On Sunday, Jill participated in the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure at Six Flags Great Adventure to raise money for cancer research. Jill ran side by side with her father, Tom, until race’s end, when the paths to the finish line split for men and women.
”When I reached the finish line I felt really happy like I accomplished something,” Jill said. “I was a little tired by the end of the race but I was having fun. I didn’t take any breaks and didn’t start walking at all. My feet felt really weird after it was over like I couldn’t walk but I felt better later.”
Jill raised close to $400 in the race, which is a personal cause in the Grzelak family.
”This year is my 10th anniversary as breast cancer survivor,” said Jill’s mother Jeanne Grzelak. “She doesn’t understand everything that I went through because it happened before she was born. She knows about it, but doesn’t understand the full seriousness.”
The Grzelak family has competed in the race in the past and Jill’s older brother, Stephen, 13, has participated in the Race for the Cure event since he was 7 years old. Stephen was unable to participate this year due to obligations with the South Brunswick High School band. Little Jill decided she would step up and run in Stephen’s place this year.
”I thought since my brother couldn’t do it that maybe I can because he did it when he was 7,” Jill said. “I did a lot of training to get ready. My dad took me to the middle school and we ran a lot of laps around the track. The first time we did it I didn’t like it but after that I started to enjoy it and had fun.”
Ms. Grzelak said the sight of Jill smiling as she approached the finish filled her with emotion.
”It makes me feel so wonderful that she’s doing these great things for people she doesn’t even know,” Ms. Grzelak said. “She wants to help raise money and it’s personal for her because of me. Seeing her run makes me so proud, same as seeing Stephen running it the years he did. I was so impressed because I’ve run that race before and she beat my score.”
Jill also donated 12 inches of her hair to the Locks of Love program, which takes donated hair and makes it into wigs for cancer patients. Jill said the work she does is what she would want if she were in the same situation.
”It makes me feel good to help people who need help,” Jill said. “If I was them I would want help, so I feel like I should help them.”

