Running for Roman: Woman laces up for boy
BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent

BRICK TOWNSHIP - With all that Roman Merlo and his family have been through since he was diagnosed with bone cancer, JoAnne Jeffries knows she wouldn't want to walk a mile in their shoes.

But Jeffries, 45, ismore than willing to lace up her sneakers and run 13 miles on behalf of the 4-year-old boy and his mother, Susan Mazura.

Jeffries was already registered to run the Long Branch Half Marathon on May 4, when

she read about Roman's story in theBrick Bulletin.

"I didn't want to run just for the sake of running," the Topsail Road resident said last week. "Two years ago when I ran this race, I did it for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but you really don't know who the money that you raise goes to. I wanted to pick someone locally who I could raise money for, and then I read about Roman and Susan."

Roman was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in March 2007, a form of bone cancer rare in children of his age, after hismother discovered a hard, 6-inch lump on his left shoulder blade.

He has endured 14 rounds of chemotherapy, has had his left shoulder blade and shoulder joint surgically removed and has battled rotavirus, an infection that attacked his digestive tract.

Thankfully, Roman is cancer free today, but his illness has leftMazura, who had to quit her job as a hairstylist and drop out of Georgian Court University where she was pursuing a degree in education, financially devastated.

"Nobody should have to go through what Roman and Susan have been through," said Jeffries, the mother of two grown sons herself. "It was heart wrenching to read their story."

In a letter to Roman's grandmother,Madeline Smith, Jeffries wrote of her intention to raise money to help out the family.

"She's another one of our Bricktown angels," Mazura said last week. "I was at a loss for words when I found out she wanted to do. To have someone do this for us is astounding."

Since she decided to run for Roman, Jeffries has raised several hundred dollars by canvassing family and friends through e-mails and asking them to donate to her cause.

Jeffries got to meet her inspiration two weeks ago, when Roman and hismother delivered a picture of the little boy. Jeffrieswill wear Roman's image on a T-shirt on race day.

"He's a beautiful boy," said Jeffries. "You can see in her eyes her love for him and how thankful she is that he's cancer free. But she's been hurt."

Jeffries said she's received e-mails from Mazura encouraging her during her training and wishing her luck in the race.

"In one she wrote, 'Run like the wind,'" said Jeffries.

Mazura said that she and Roman will be at the race cheering Jeffries on Saturday.

"We'll be there to see her off or we'll be there when she crosses the finish line," said Mazura. "We wouldn't miss it."

To make a contribution, send a check payable to "Contribution for Roman Merlo" in care of JoAnne Jeffries, 59A Topsail Road, Brick, NJ 08723.