Visually impaired cancer survivor completes triathlon with help from sister

1 year ago 32

THIS ANNUAL TRI FOR A CURE EVENT RAISED 1-POINT-87 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MAINE CANCER FOUNDATION. WE CAUGHT UP WITH A TRI FOR A CURE ATHLETE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE TRIATHLON FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.... WHILE TETHERED TO HER SISTER. KELLY WILLIAMS IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED. TALIA CLARKE IS SHARING HER STORY.. <SOT KELLY WILLIAMS / TRI FOR A CURE PARTICIPANT> 00;02;23;07 - 00;03;02;19 "IT MAKES YOU LOOK AT LIFE VERY DIFFERENTLY ONCE YOU'VE SURVIVED THAT." <VO> KELLY WILLIAMS HAS OVERCOME A LOT.. BORN 4 MONTHS EARLY.. BACK IN THE 70'S.. SHE WAS THE SMALLEST BABY BORN IN MAINE AT THE TIME.. WILLIAM'S HAS BEEN VISUALLY IMPAIRED HER ENTIRE LIFE. <SOT KELLY WILLIAMS / TRI FOR A CURE PARTICIPANT> 00;08;52;17 - 00;09;26;24 "YOU COULD FIT ME IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND." <VO> WILLIAMS IS ALSO A TWO-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR. DIAGNOSED WITH HODGKIN'S DISEASE WHEN SHE WAS 19.. THEN A FORM OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER WHEN SHE WAS 38. FOR MANY YEARS.. WILLIAMS STOOD ON THE SIDELINES AS A SPECTATOR TO CHEER ON HER SISTER JULIE.. WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE TRI AT LEAST NINE TIMES. BUT THIS YEAR.. WAS DIFFERENT. JULIE CONVINCED WILLIAMS TO TRAIN FOR THE TRI.. AND COMPETE IN THE 1/3 MILE SWIM AND 3-MILE RUN. <SOT KELLY WILLIAMS / TRI FOR A CURE PARTICIPANT> 00;12;24;16 - 00;12;51;28 "SHE'S THE ONE THAT TRAINED ME. SHE DID A GREAT JOB GREAT JOB WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE WHOLE WAY." 00;03;40;07 - 00;04;12;16 "I STARTED IN A POOL AS THE WESTBROOK COMMUNITY POOL WITH MY SISTER, I THINK IT WAS IN APRIL. AND THEN WE MOVED OUT TO OPEN WATER MY PARENTS LIVE IN RAYMOND ON THOMAS POND, AND SO WE DID THE LAKE A FEW TIMES AND THEN WE MOVED INTO THE OCEAN." <VO> SINCE WILLIAMS IS LEGALLY BLIND.. JULIE WAS HER GUIDE.. THE SISTER-DUO.. TETHERED TOGETHER DURING THE RACE.. AND MAKING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THEIR OFFICIAL TIME.. 1 HOUR AND 9 MINUTES. I ASKED WILLIAMS.. IF SHE HAS ANY ADVICE FOR OTHERS AFTER COMPLETING HER FIRST TRI.. <SOT KELLY WILLIAMS / TRI FOR A CURE PARTICIPANT> 00;11;00;12 - 00;11;46;25 "IT IS CHALLENGING BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT AND YOU'RE WILLING TO TRY IT OUT, I WOULD SAY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S IT'S AN AMAZING EVENT." 00;11;00;12 - 00;11;46;2

Kelly Williams has overcome a lot. Born four months early, back in the 1970s, she was the smallest baby born in Maine at the time. "You could fit me in the palm of your hand," said Williams. "It makes you look at life very differently once you've survived that."Williams has been visually impaired her whole life, and she's a two-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Hodkin's lymphoma when she was 19, and then, a form of head and neck cancer when she was 38. For many years, Williams stood on the sidelines at the Tri for a Cure, cheering on her sister Julie, who has participated in the race at least nine times. This year was different. Julie convinced Williams to train for the triathlon and compete in the 1/3-mile swim and 3-mile run. "She's the one that trained me," said Williams. "She did a great job great job with the encouragement, the whole way." Since Williams is legally blind, Julie wasn't just her coach, she was also her guide. The two sisters made it across the finish line, tethered together, in one hour and nine minutes."It is challenging but, you know, if you're willing to work for it and you're willing to try it out, I would say do it, because it's an amazing event," said Williams. "If I can do it, anybody can."

Kelly Williams has overcome a lot. Born four months early, back in the 1970s, she was the smallest baby born in Maine at the time.

"You could fit me in the palm of your hand," said Williams. "It makes you look at life very differently once you've survived that."

Williams has been visually impaired her whole life, and she's a two-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Hodkin's lymphoma when she was 19, and then, a form of head and neck cancer when she was 38.

For many years, Williams stood on the sidelines at the Tri for a Cure, cheering on her sister Julie, who has participated in the race at least nine times.

This year was different. Julie convinced Williams to train for the triathlon and compete in the 1/3-mile swim and 3-mile run.

"She's the one that trained me," said Williams. "She did a great job great job with the encouragement, the whole way."

Since Williams is legally blind, Julie wasn't just her coach, she was also her guide.

The two sisters made it across the finish line, tethered together, in one hour and nine minutes.

"It is challenging but, you know, if you're willing to work for it and you're willing to try it out, I would say do it, because it's an amazing event," said Williams. "If I can do it, anybody can."

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