Jenny’s Kloset Firecracker 5K

Jenny’s Kloset Firecracker 5K, presented by Fanucci and Kolcharno

When: Thursday, July 4, 2019

Where: Valley View Elementary Center, 901 Main St, Peckville, Pennsylvania 18452

Race Day Registration: From 7:30-9:00 AM

Race Start:  9:00AM

Awards:  The top 3 males and females overall runners will receive an award, as well as the top male and female in each age group.

Age Groups:  19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Over.

Tina Jezuit was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11 in 1988.  14 months of chemo and 5 surgeries brought many latent effects, including heart failure and a massive stroke.  Tina and her sister, Jillian, knew how fortunate the outcome of their journey was.  They wanted to give back to the very same community that stood behind their village.  

In August 2008, Cancertacular Inc. was born, founded by the sister duo.  It is NEPA's neighborhood for childhood cancer, serving Lackawanna, Luzerne, and 5 surrounding countries.  To date, over 50 families have been served by the 501(c)3 nonprofit.  

Around Christmas 2015, they realized that while reminding these kids to laugh after a cancer diagnosis, and spoiling them in the process, was important work But, Tina and Jill also wanted the children to know that they had much to give back, also.  

By Spring 2016, they filled nearly half of a garage! Along with Maria Kishel, principal of Valley View Elementary, Cancertacular board members set out to feed hungry children in the Valley View School District.  In May of 2016, boxes of food were delivered to 6 families.  The criteria was to be enrolled in the Valley View School District and qualify for either free or reduced lunch.  

Jenny received chemotherapy at Hershey Medical Center simultaneously with Tina in 1988-89.  While they were in the same chemo cycle, Jenny had a different type of cancer - Leukemia.  Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, the 4 year old was often dropped off for 5 day Hospital admissions for high dose IV chemotherapy.  

About 4 month in, Tina's sidekick Jenny, emerged from her hospital room announcing, "the angels filled my closet !"  In fact, nurses had filled her closet with frilly dresses and favorite snacks and a few toys.  in retrospect, it was because Jenny was soon to lose her battle and gain her own angel wings. 

Jenny never left Tina's heart.  Several years ago, Tina contacted Mrs. Crawford, Jenny's mom, through the same social worker at Hershey Medical Center that cared for the two during cancer treatment.  She happily gave full permission to use Jenny's likeness for a project. 

Those canned goods in 2015 turned into Jenny's Kloset, a program under the umbrella of Cancertacular that currently delivers 64 boxers of food to Valley View families every 2 weeks.  In addition, there is a closet in each of the 4 schools in the district, ready to rescue kids without sufficient clothing on any given day. 

We are quickly outgrowing our space and can't wait to see where this crazy legacy of Jenny's leads us!!!