ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Katrice Marshall of Rochester made Jim Kelly's Football Camp at St. John Fisher her son's first.

"He is an example of something I've never seen before,” she said. 

“To do something to this degree and to continually do it regardless of whatever and just to be here and speak to the kids and be an example of them, not just someone they can hear about, but tangible, they can see him. It's awesome.”

What it is to see someone take every breath with purpose, the way the camp's host does with gusto.

There was no guarantee Jim Kelly would be here for his ninth youth camp in Rochester. The stiches in his mouth still ache from the bone transplant he had following his most recent victory over jaw and lymph node cancer.

"I know why I'm still here,” Kelly said Tuesday. “There's no doubt the Lord had plans for me."

 

 

 Perhaps, in these days when suicide among athletes is a public health issue, Kelly Tough can be the example of how to fight every day for the privilege of doing what you can.

"Anybody can be able to make a difference for somebody,” Kelly said. “As long as you're willing to put a smile on your face and make sure whatever that personal issue is, you have a different attitude."

Kelly knows not every pep talk, about football, or life, may stick, and that's OK.

"Doesn't matter to me. Because they are young,” he said. “They don't have to worry about that. I've had a couple kids come up to me and say 'me and my family are praying for you.' And to be honest with you, that's all I need to hear."

 Marshall believes she saw the difference the morning with the Hall of Famer and his staff at the Kelly camp made in her son.

"To see him out on the field just participating feels good to me,” she said. “I don't know how he feels yet.  I hope it motivates him to do more. To see that beyond the computers, beyond whatever hurdles he may have, he can get over it."

The way the man who defines "Kelly Tough" does.