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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
Amelia’s Run (formerly known as The Amelia B Wilson LBL Run) for 2023 will feature a 10km, 5km, and Kid’s Run. It remains under the direction of Durbin Race Management, and is hosted by the incredible volunteers from the Grand Rivers area; most of whom knew and loved Amelia Wilson.
The race is in honor of a spectacular woman, Amelia Brown Wilson, who was taken way 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; the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA). 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 above.
Fall running at Land Between the Lakes and Grand Rivers KY is stunningly beautiful. This year’s race will feature the same 10km course, a new 5km course, and a Kid’s Fun Run!! The Kid’s race will be between 1km and 1 mile in length. A Kid’s “Mile-by-Mile” Marathon is new for 2023. Kids 12 and under can sign-up for the Marathon in early August, log online each mile that they walk, run, or jog before the day of the run. Junior participants that log 25 miles prior to the run will complete that last mile of the Marathon during the Amelia’s Kid Run and will receive a trophy and be recognized for completing a Marathon.
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 Race Day
Saturday, October 21. (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 is a block from the start. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you.
Packet pick up: 06:30 – 07:45 at Grand Rivers Tourism Office, 1858 JH O’Bryan, Grand Rivers 42045
Day of Race Registration is available: Cash only. Add $10 to the regular registration rates. If we run out of shirts, we’ll have to mail them to you.
Restrooms: These are open in the kiosks in front of the Badgett Playhouse (next to the Tourism Office). Portable toilets are available
Races Start: at 08:00 in front of the GR Tourism Office. The race will start on time. Please don’t rush in at the last second.
Kid’s Run Start: at 09:30 in front of the GR Tourism Office. NOTE: We will have entertainment for kids if you wish to run your race, and then run with your kid.
AWARDS: Are given as you cross the finish line. All finishers receive a medal. The top 5 m/f in 10K and 5K receive a plaque.
Races End: 11 AM.
After the race food was served from 09:30 – 11:00 near the finish line at the Grand Rivers Community Center by the Grand Rivers Chamber of Commerce.
The running path is a paved path, not a trail run.
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 KODA. There are different levels of sponsorship and ALL sponsors will be recognized on the event T-Shirts. Corporate sponsors will be recognized on T-shirts, event banners, and
promotional materials.
Sponsor Levels:
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