Bath’s 20th Relay in Millboro

In our small mountain communities, there are groups of unwavering, and sometimes tired, volunteers who keep wheels turning. In Bath County, two groups show that dedication to raising funds, one for cancer research, and another to doing the same for care of local patients. The Doris Via Foundation held a very successful auction in late August, and last weekend the local Relay for Life organization held its event at Millboro Elementary School.   A visitor there, who was traveling with her husband, helped participants remember they are part of a long established effort by the American Cancer Society to honor memories of loved ones, and to keep up hope until there is a cure for cancer.

“My name is Denise Mozal; I’m from Chesterfield Michigan, and I am a eight year Breast Cancer Survivor. I came here tonight night o Bath County to attend your Relay as my Virginia State. So, I am walking in every sate in the US, and I happened to pick this event. And I will tell you I’m excited to be here. I was told that this was a small event, and it’s really kind of funny because every event I go to is different. This one the community feeling is so tight. And the people here made me feel like family, which is amazing to me.  I have had people that have shared their story; I have had people who have shown me the kind of caring and love that people who have had devastating illness share with people they care about, and that to me is huge. I played a crazy game out here, and it was an absolute blast, and I am going to go and share that the next time I go some place. And I received a blanket with a story, and it almost brought me to tears. It was amazing. So, I will tell you that this event was meant for me to be here. It was meant for me to meet these people; and they are now my cancer family. So, this is a wonderful night for me.”

Mrs. Mozal, has a blog on Tumblr where she shares specifics about the events she attends. She pledges to walk three miles at each Relay, and contribute at least one hundred dollars. She has a special Mom on a Mission T-shirt signed by the organizers of each event. Denise has walked in forty states, and plans to reach fifty before she is finished.   She shared a little about how Relays vary so much from one community to another, and that recently 5ks are increasing in popularity. As far a she could see, opportunities are only limited by imagination, and Bath County already abounds in the care and dedication needed to find a cure.