Dear Mr. Shay:
I am a member of the board of directors for the Hospital Hill Run in Kansas City, Missouri. Ryan won our half-marathon in 2004 in a time of 1:05:04, which is outstanding for our hilly course in a warm June day.
On behalf of the entire board and our race director, Beth Salinger, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to your family and to Alicia on Ryan's tragic death. Ryan epitomized everything that is good about our sport and he was one of the most respected competitors on the scene in years. The entire running community shares your loss.
I have forwarded to you an e-mail from our race director announcing the creation of the Ryan Shay Award to be presented annually following Hospital Hill beginning with our next race in 2008. The requirements for the award are not achievement, but passion. It was Ryan's passion for the sport that we want to honor with this award.
On behalf of the board of directors and our race director, I would like to invite your family and Alicia to come to Kansas City on Saturday, June 7, 2008 to present the first annual Ryan Shay Award (at our expense, of course). It would be our honor to have all of you present this award.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The American running community has lost one of its truly brightest lights.