There were many heartwarming stories that came out of this year’s Johnston/North Providence Relay for Life. Adrian Sosa may not have raised the most money for the American Cancer Society, but his story resonated with event organizers.
An 8-year-old resident of North Smithfield, Sosa’s $9.40 donation helped propel Nikki Batsford’s fundraising efforts over the $1,000 mark. Sosa set up a lemonade stand in his red wagon to support Batsford, who sold paper bras for a “Burning of the Bras” ceremony at midnight on Saturday.
“The reason why I sent money to the people that have breast cancer is because I care about people. I do not want people to die and I want special people to help them. Thank you for walking for the people that have breast cancer. From Adrian Sosa,” read a letter from the 8-year-old.
Batsford choked up as she read the letter, and a roar of applause and cheers erupted from the Relay teams in the campfire-lighted park.
“Nikki is so grateful that Adrian’s money brought the Bra Fund over the $1,000 mark,” said Terry Novak, Relay chairperson who again captained Team Raging through the Ages. “This entire story is special; Adrian’s donation meant so much to so many people.”
The donation would not have been possible without Christina Rondeau, who owns and operates Christina Rondeau’s Kick-Boxing Academy and Gym, where Novak, Mary Beth Sosa and Batsford work out. Rondeau sanctioned the collection of money for the Bra Fund, and Novak was collecting money for the fund when she met Sosa’s mother, Mary Beth.
Like so many people, cancer struck Mary Beth Sosa’s family two-fold.
“My Aunt Mary Lee Abanilla died from breast cancer on May 15,” she explained. “That was Adrian’s first experience with a funeral and such. At that time, I talked about why Terry was collecting money for cancer research and what it means to give money to a charity.”
Adrian, who is a second grader at North Smithfield Elementary School, decided to take action.
What Mary Beth Sosa didn’t know, at the time, was that Adrian and a few neighborhood friends decided to go door-to-door to raise money for the Relay to help the battle against cancer.
The donation, Mary Beth Sosa said, was also in memory of her mother Ann Vieira, who is a cancer survivor.
“She’s doing pretty well right now,” Sosa said. “We discovered she had breast cancer 15 years ago. It runs in the family. My grandmother [Genevieve Muscatelli] also passed away from breast cancer.”
When asked if she was surprised with her son Adrian’s fundraising efforts, Mary Beth Sosa said she would expect nothing less.
He’s a really good kid. He loves helping people. He’s such a sweetheart. I wasn’t surprised, but I was really proud of Adrian,” she said.
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