Friday, July 30, 1999
Runner's therapy leads to victory
Avondale woman to go to National Senior Olympics
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If you ask Mary Kelly, she will tell you that pre-emptive enthusiasm and the grace of God will get you across the finish line ahead of the crowd.
She plans to take those thoughts with her when she participates in the National Senior Olympics Oct. 19-29 in Orlando, Fla.
The 60-year-old Avondale woman qualified for the event by finishing in first place in the 100-yard dash in her age group in city competition, and in second place in state competition last year.
The National Senior Olympics are held every two years.
Running has been a kind of special therapy for Mrs. Kelly, who had a stroke in 1974 that left her with partial paralysis on the left side.
She recalls the day with painful memories when she stood in her kitchen and saw the room turn upside down.
“I didn't know what was happening. I saw the walls began to turn and I fell. The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital,” she said.
Luckily, she said, her son was there and called 911.
“I was in a coma for four days,” she said. “But when I came out of it, I was determined not to let the stroke or anything else stop me from living my life to the fullest.”
To help rehabilitate herself, Mrs. Kelly started running and playing softball.
“I was a center fielder for the Jewish Hospital softball team,” she said.
She worked as a clerk at the hospital.
The running provided therapy for her mind as well as her body because she faced several family tragedies in the 1990s.
Her husband, Joseph Kelly, died of Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 1991. She lost two sons two weeks apart in 1993. Ernest, 36, died of asthma, and Robert, 20, was shot to death on Rockdale Avenue in Avondale during an argument.
“I have been able to re-
habilitate myself through running, church and civic activities,” Mrs. Kelly said.
She is a member of Corinthian Baptist Church in Avondale, where she sings in the choir. She also is a parliamentarian for the Residents' Council at Maple Towers where she lives.
“She is one of the regulars in our Senior Olympics,” said Gary Vaught, a supervisor with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, which sponsors the olympics. “She will be among seniors going to the olympics from the seven-county area we cover.”
Mr. Vaught said the seniors also will compete in basketball, badminton, bicycling, bowling and golf. He said about 11,000 seniors from across the country will participate.
Mr. Vaught said the National Senior Olympics will be in Baton Rouge, La., in 2001.
“We are trying to get it in Cincinnati (in) 2003,” Mr. Vaught said.
Mrs. Kelly, who is on disability income, is seeking financial help to get to Orlando.
“I have most of the money I need,” she said. “I am short about $300.”
To help, call her at 221-5434.
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