Amelia was a three-time University of Kentucky graduate. She earned her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences in 2003, her master’s degree in community and leadership development in 2006, and her doctorate in higher education administration in 2011. While at UK, Amelia was the university ambassador coordinator, a student senator, a vice president of Delta Gamma sorority, and the 2003 homecoming queen. In 2010, Amelia married her best friend and soulmate, Allen O. Wilson. She was the 2011 recipient of UK’s Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award and a 2021 recipient of UK’s Distinguished Service Award.
Amelia served as director of agritourism at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Amelia was diagnosed with liver disease at age 19. She received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2005 while a student at the University of Kentucky. Amelia and her family are eternally grateful to her liver donor, John Cody Conley, who was a 13-year-old boy from West Virginia who loved the outdoors and died while riding an all-terrain vehicle.
Amelia was a field representative for U.S. Congressman James Comer and passed away
on June 25, 2021, following a lengthy battle with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
(PTLD), which is a cancer faced only by organ transplant recipients.
Amelia resided in Grand Rivers, Kentucky with her husband Allen, both took a very active role in the Grand Rivers Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, and the Community as a whole. Amelia always greeted everyone with a smile and acceptance; her peace, love, and light filled the soul of every person who had the opportunity to meet her and she made a difference in the lives of many. Amelia’s brilliance, compassion, and light live on through her husband who continues to light the community and world around him.
Amelia’s gentle spirit, life struggles, advocacy, and support for the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates inspired the redevelopment of the Fall Grand Rivers LBL run to the “Amelia’s Run” to increase awareness of organ donation, fund-raise for the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, and to honor our friend.
KODA’s mission is to provide organs an
d tissues to those in need and to maintain a profound respect for those that give the gift of life through community outreach and education, hospital partnerships, clinical expertise, and basic research into donation and transplantation advancements.
Core Values: Compassionate, Dedicated, Accountable
Background: Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) is dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. KODA was formed to establish a statewide educational and procurement network. KODA supports and participates in research to advance the management and recovery of organ and tissue donors, ultimately leading to the transplantation and healing of more patients in need. KODA is an independent, non-profit organ and tissue procurement agency.
Oversight: Like all OPOs, KODA is federally designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As an accredited tissue bank, KODA Tissue Operations is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). KODA is a member of the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), a government-chartered nationwide network operating the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under a federal contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Founded: 1987 (Originated as a combination of existing organ and tissue procurement programs at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville)
Service Area: 114 counties in Kentucky, 4 counties in southern Indiana and 2 counties in western West Virginia. (Six northern Kentucky counties are served by LifeCenter in Cincinnati).
Place
1858 JH O’Bryan Avenue
Grand Rivers, KY US 42045
Description
The race is hosted by incredible volunteers from the Grand Rivers area, most of whom knew and loved Amelia Wilson.
The race honors a spectacular woman, Amelia Brown Wilson, who was taken too soon. She was a staple of the Grand Rivers community. The race is being used as a fundraiser for an organization she believed in and worked so hard for: Donate Life – a Kentucky organ donor organization. Amelia was an organ recipient early in life and unfortunately lost her life due to complications later in life (but way too soon at 39 years old). Please see more About Amelia in the the bio below.
Fall running at Land Between the Lakes and Grand Rivers KY is stunningly beautiful. This year’s race will feature the same 10km course, and 5km course, and a Kid’s Fun Run!! The Kid’s race will be approximately 1 mile in length
If you can’t attend in person, you can still show your support by participating virtually! Choose the virtual option when registering, submit your results, and we’ll send your finisher’s award and shirt to you.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, October 26. (all times are Central Daylight Time)
Parking: There is parking in the lot next to the Community Center/Across from the Tourism Office. Additional parking in the park a block from the start. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you.
Day of Race Registration You will be able to register on your phone/computer up until 7:45am the morning of the race.
Rest rooms: Are open in the kiosks in front of the Badgett Playhouse (next to the Tourism Office). Portable toilets are available close by.
Races Start: 08:00 in front of the GR Tourism Office. Race will start on time. Please don’t rush in at the last second.
Kid’s Run Start: 09:30 in front of GR Tourism Office.
AWARDS: Top 5 Overall Male and Female finishers will receive an award
Races End: 10 AM.
Packet Pick Up
Packet pick up will be offered at 2 separate times at Grand Rivers Tourism Office, 1858 JH O’Bryan, Grand Rivers 42045
Day before the race: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Race morning: Saturday Oct, 26th from 6:15am – 07:45am
We strongly recommend not waiting until the last minute to pick up your packet, as race morning lines can be long.
Course details – water stations
10K course
START – Grand Rivers Tourism office 1858 JH O’Bryan, Grand Rivers, proceed up JH OBryan;
LEFT on 453, RIGHT on Kentucky Lake Scenic Drive, DO NOT get on the Canal Loop trail; stay on the road and continue to the 3.1 mile turnaround.
Reverse back to Grand Rivers Tourism office for the finish.
Water Stations located at mile 1.2, 3.1, and 5.
No portable toilets available on the 10k course.
5 KM course
Same as the 10km course, except turnaround at the half-way mark, and return to the finish at GR tourism office.
Water station located around mile 1.2. You’ll have access to it before the turnaround, and again on the way back.
Food at the finish area!
Kids 1 mile run
Begins and ends at the Grand Rivers tourism office. Volunteers will be on hand at every turn. The course is such that you can see your child about halfway through and then again at the finish. You can run with your kid if you want!
Note: See location of water stations for respective courses above. If you feel you need more than this, please be prepared to carry it with you.
Virtual Race Options and How to enter results
This is a fundraiser for Donate Life, an organization dear to Amelia. Since many of you have already chosen a race for October 26, or if you live a little too far away to attend in person, we’re pleased to offer another way for you to be a part of the event.
Virtual options: 10k, or 5k.
Just run the distance you’ve chosen anytime between October 20 and October 22. You’ll be able to submit your results. We’ll mail your shirt and medal to you. IF YOU ARE RUNNING A DIFFERENT RACE somewhere, just use the distance and time you recorded there.
How to enter your virtual race: Go to this race on Runsignup: https://runsignup.com/Race/KY/GrandRivers/AmeliaBWilsonLBLRun
Click on Results at the top; Choose your distance from the drop down, and click on Submit Virtual results. Find yourself by either of the two options. Then enter your distance and time. Hit submit.
Video on how to submit results here: https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000087349-submit-and-manage-virtual-results
NOTE: virtual runs will receive a shirt by mail, but will not be eligible for top 5 awards; you must run in person for those.
Race goodies and Awards
Each participant will receive a nice Amelia’s Run shirt. Both unisex and women’s cut available. (Shirt concept below. Colors and logos are subject to change based on vendor availability) Deadline for a guaranteed shirt is Oct. 4th
Top 5 Male and Female finishers for both the 10k and 5k will receive an award which are given at the finish line; please get yours before you leave.
Sponsorships are a vital part of the event. The goal and purpose of the “Amelia’s Run” is to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and to provide the maximum amount of funds for the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. Sponsorships help cover the cost of runners’ T-shirts, awards, staffing, and promotion so that all fees and donations received directly benefit the cause. Rest assured that any funds above costs that are raised through sponsorships will be directly donated to Donate Life KY. There are different levels of sponsorship, and ALL sponsors will be recognized on the event T-shirts & the runner’s registration site.
