Jill Maze

Jill Maze

Dear Family and Friends, 

As many of you know, our family loves Comfort Zone Camp and we have been loyal fans for a long time. The path that led us to CZC began in 2006 when tragedy struck suddenly and I lost my husband Rodney to brain cancer. He had just been diagnosed 2 months earlier. At that time, our son Noah was 3 years old and I was 8 months pregnant with our daughter, Sam. Some time later, I heard someone talking about Comfort Zone Camp and how it was a camp for kids who had lost a parent, so I signed Noah up when he was old enough to attend. When we walked up to the check-in table at that first camp, my little boy was struggling to make sense of the unfairness, anger and sadness that came from growing up without his dad. That first camp was transformational. As background, CZC provides camps for kids who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. The camps are packed with fun games, trust-building activities and also age-appropriate support groups where kids can lean on each other and learn healthy grief coping skills.

Finally, there was a place where Noah could be a grieving kid, as everyone at camp just "got it." He made so many friends who were also growing up grieving, he shared his grief story, had so much fun in the obstacle course and during camp games, and most importantly, he felt supported and understood in that magical camp bubble. As a parent, I was so incredibly grateful. CZC gave something so precious to my son that no one else in the world (not even me) could provide... peace and healing. 

Not long after that, Sam attended camp as well and loved it as much as Noah. As the years went by, the kids attended numerous camps, growing up through the different healing circles and finding acceptance and support in new and different ways. They loved camp and I loved the comfort and joy they found there. I vowed to support CZC forever. 

Life moved on and over the years two new men entered our lives, my husband Jay, and then our little guy, Quinn. But in 2020, our family was hit with a heartbreaking turn of events when Jay was diagnosed with the same lethal type of brain cancer. For 16 months, Jay determinedly fought the odds through brain surgeries and relentless treatments. He tackled numerous setbacks with incredible optimism and courage. Sadly, Jay lost his battle in Feb 2022. Quinn had just turned 6.  

Now I have another little boy to sign up for CZC. I never thought I would find myself back in this situation, but it is all the more reason for me to raise money and support the cause by running in the United NYC Half Marathon. I want to provide as many kids as possible a chance to attend CZC events and find some of that peace and healing.

I am running in honor of Jay.  And I am running in honor of Rodney.          

I would be grateful for your support as I raise money for CZC and train to run on March 19.  Grief Relief.  Every little bit helps. 

Thank you so very much, Jill

         

1 in 13 children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18. The burden of bereavement disrupts family dynamics, strains social relationships, and emotionally isolates grieving children.

Every step we take and every dollar we raise brings us closer to giving more grieving children hope. Together we can provide grief relief to the 5.6 million grieving children in the United States.


Jill Maze
Jill Maze