From a Vienna Patch Reader:

Katie Bailey, a 2015 graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA) and a volunteer leader of UVA's hugely successful American Cancer Society Relay For Life events, is hitting the road this summer to raise awareness around cancer and to raise funds to support clinical trials for cancer research. She'll be joined by her grandmother, Peggy Bailey, a 22-year breast cancer survivor, for the week-long road trip. Bailey's "Miles for Trials," which kicks off on July 1 in New York, was born when Bailey was considering creative ways to meet a challenge set forth by the UVA Relay to alumni and faculty. "The alumni and faculty were challenged to collectively donate $100,000," Bailey said. "It's also on my grandmother's bucket list to do a cross-country road trip before her 80th birthday in March 2017. We're excited that our road trip adventure can also contribute to such an important cause."

Anyone can support the Miles for Trials through donations of all sizes. They will welcome "sponsors" for travel as well as financial support. The minimum fundraising goal they've set is $5,000 – about $1 for each mile they plan to travel. But in the spirit of Bailey's competitive nature and the original UVA challenge, their "go-big-or-go-home" goal is $100,000. In addition, they're asking people to support their journey through social media: @milesfortrials on Twitter and Instagram. They'd also like to meet people along their cancer journey who will share their stories and help spread awareness about the importance of clinical trials in cancer research.

"While I may not have the knowledge to be able to find the cure myself, I am confident and motivated to do my part in helping fund the critical cancer research that will," said Bailey. Her connection to cancer goes beyond her grandmother. She's also dedicated to fighting cancer in honor of her dad, Tom, a skin cancer survivor, and her best friend's mom, Donna, a three-time ovarian cancer survivor, and in memory of a high school classmate, Sebastian.

Serving as a team captain, Bailey was first involved in Relay For Life in her hometown of Vienna, Va., in 2005. She went on to participate as well as volunteer as a team captain and event co-chair for the Alexandria Youth Relay For Life.

Once at UVA, Bailey joined the executive board for the university's Relay For Life event and participated on the fundraising committee. Over the next three years, she was the logistics chair and then president of the board. The UVA Relay executive team became one of the top three fundraising teams in the nation and the overall event was fifth highest per capita in 2013. It was also one of the top 15 collegiate Relay For Life events in the world in 2014. Bailey helped to lead the UVA Relay For Life event to 100 percent growth in participation and fundraising during her four years on the executive board. She has also personally raised more than $50,000, $23,000 just in 2015, for the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life.

Now living in Manhattan, NY, Bailey is working as a marketing associate for Hearst Business Media, the fastest-growing and second-most-profitable division of Hearst. She is using her vacation time for the Miles for Trials road trip. Bailey has served as a caregiver and volunteer for many years and shares that one clear thing she has learned is that cancer is a journey. "What better way to represent that journey than with a physical one – going across the country. We will celebrate life and survivorship, as well as remember those who fought the valiant fight, and support and inspire many more to join us in saving more lives from cancer."