THE DR. JOHN P. WILLIAMS AWARD

Presented in memory of Dr. John P. Williams to the Tely 10 participant who has inspired others through enthusiastic and spirited participation in the annual Telegram 10 Mile Road Race.

(2021) Recipient: Lisa Kelsey
Citation

This year’s winner is an inspirational role model who has overcome significant health challenges to be here with us today. She and the friend who nominated her have hopefully just finished the race – they hoped to complete today in about 90 minutes.

She’s a married mom with two daughters who has been active, right from childhood to now. She’s outgoing and adventurous… and she’s a cancer survivor. Bravo to her for having faced that challenge strongly, for competing today, and for inspiring her dear friend to get fit, and to start running as well.

The 2021 winner of the Dr. John Williams award is Lisa Kelsey.

Come on up to the stage Lisa. We’ll share your story with the audience as you join us.

Here representing the Williams family is Dr. Williams’s son Peter Williams. Come on up Peter.

A runner for the past 20 years, Lisa also juggles family life and managing her own business.

Although she’s been active her entire life, it wasn’t until the year 2000 that she took up running. At that time she started really just for something to do, not realizing that it would be a life-long passion, a passion that she has since passed on to many others.

Near her 40^th birthday, about 13 years ago, and after finishing her third Tely 10 she was diagnosed with cancer. She had to give up her love of running to focus on her health, her recovery. Her medical struggles have been challenging. She is now strong and cancer free. Focusing on her health with sheer determination has gotten her through

The journey Lisa and her best friend were on together included lots excuses to not go for a run, something many aspiring athletes can relate to…yet they persevered, they did not give up, they provided the mutual encouragement day in and day out. While rebuilding her own health, Lisa stayed focused on providing instruction on how to run without injury and most importantly of all how to enjoy it. That’s what today is all about… enjoying it.

Like many people who first start running, the Tely 10 is a dream, a goal for someday….

When her friend first brought up the idea of running the Tely 10 to Lisa, her nominator didn’t know if she really believed she could do it, and she don’t think she ever thought it would be something Lisa would do again given her medical history. Being the incredibly strong person that she is, Lisa put aside her self-doubts quickly so she could support her best friend the journey to finish the Tely 10.

Lisa has been a total inspiration for her best friend who nominated her. That friend, who was not active and did not think of herself as a runner, needed to make changes in her life and Lisa was right there to help, encouraging the adoption of healthier lifestyle. Over years, with endless motivation and encouragement, her friend got active and fit and lost 55 pounds. They we started with walking, then hiking, and biking, and finally running. Her friend recalls saying many times that “I’d never be able to run like she does and Lisa would just smile and say “oh yes you will, just wait and see”... and they did it.

Lisa, and her friend, and various other relatives have run today. Bravo Lisa. Congratulations.

Let’s give them a hand.

To be eligible for this award, the candidate:

• must have participated in the Tely 10 road race at least once
• must have specifically motivated others to participate in the Tely 10, either by walking or running or as a wheelchair participant
• must by participation in the Tely 10 have inspired and motivated others to become physically active

The candidate may be someone who:

• began regular exercise at an advanced age
• overcame a serious emotional or physical challenge in life
• or began exercising while recovering from a serious or life-threatening illness

Submission deadline

• Nominations must be sent to Patricia Williams by Monday, June 3, 2024.
• Please send the nomination via email in Microsoft Word format or Portable Document Format (PDF). Please ensure that the following information is submitted along with the nomination:
  1. Nominee
     • Name
     • Address
     • City/Town
     • Province & Postal Code
     • Telephone
  2. Nominator
     • Name
     • Address
     • City/Town
     • Province & Postal Code
     • Telephone
     • E-mail
  3. Reason for the nomination
  4. Date & Signature of Nominator

Nominations

• Candidates for this award may be nominated by any Tely 10 participant or a member of the Organizing Committee.
• All nominations will be carefully considered and voted on by a Selection Committee with the winner decided by majority vote.