Hall of Fame former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly was presented the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance during Wednesday’s ESPYs in Los Angeles.
The annual award goes to the sports figure that best personifies the courage and fight the late great Jim Valvano showed as he battled cancer.
In receiving the award this year, Kelly touched on all the hallmarks that made Valvano such an inspiration to so many around the world.
"I will never give up. I will keep fighting til the end. Get up, you'll be alright."
As we honor Jim Kelly with the Jimmy V Award, consider donating to @TheVFoundation: https://t.co/6NwFh2XdEK pic.twitter.com/SnohcxEpN6
— ESPN (@espn) July 19, 2018
Previously diagnosed with cancer in the jaw, Kelly saw the disease return for a third time earlier this year. It’s downright horrible luck for a man that has impacted the lives of so many others since his retirement from the NFL back in 1996.
Now 58 years old, Kelly continues with the fight for his life. He’s not doing so sitting down or feeling bad for himself. He’s out here “fighting til the end” and showing the courage to stand up to a disease that has directly or indirectly impacted pretty much every one of us.
To Kelly, we say “you’ll be alright” and keep fighting.