The Fox Focus 2023 Fall/Winter | Page 20

“ Gail has been a steady source of inspiration and encouragement to our Team Fox community .”
18 Fox Focus | Community

Early Team Fox Pioneer Celebrates 20 Years of Love and Community

By Liv Newlon
Gail Oliver , left , has made a special event honoring her mother Dorothy Moorhouse , right , a two-decades-long celebration of community .
The historic resort of Capon Springs , West Virginia has always held a special place in Gail Oliver ’ s heart . It ’ s where her mother , Dorothy Moorhouse , spent time as a child ; where Gail ’ s family vacationed every summer ; where she met and married her husband ; and where lifelong friendships were formed . So , when her mother , affectionately known as “ Mrs . Mo ,” passed away in 2004 after living with Parkinson ’ s , there was no question that Gail would honor her mother at their cherished family spot .
That year , on the golf course ’ s first tee , beside the bench dedicated to the memory of Gail ’ s parents , The Mrs . Mo Memorial Golf Tournament was established . Friends gathered and golfers teed off to raise funds for Parkinson ’ s research in Dorothy ’ s honor . What started as an intimate moment for Gail to remember her mother inspired a new tradition extending two decades and raising more than $ 200,000 for research . Since inception in 2006 , Team Fox members around the world have raised over $ 100 million for Parkinson ’ s research , 100 percent of which goes directly to high-impact programs .

“ Gail has been a steady source of inspiration and encouragement to our Team Fox community .”

“ The Mrs . Mo is a labor of love , which began in memory of my mother , and has now evolved into also honoring the dear friends that we have made along the way — our Team Fox family ,” Gail says , adding she is “ overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness and generosity of all who have supported the tournament over all these years .”
“ Gail has been a steady source of inspiration and encouragement to our Team Fox community ,” says Liz Diemer , MJFF ’ s vice president of community fundraising .
For Gail , the 20th anniversary of the event offers a moment to honor and reflect on the deep friendships made over the years — and to honor her mother in the place she loved most .