The purpose of this fundraiser is in remembrance of a lost friend and to raise awareness to the mental health crisis.
On Friday, September 6th of last year, I lost a close and dear friend, William "Will" Oliver. Will and I first met when we were 12 years old at church, going through our confirmation ceremony together. From the very beginning, I knew we would be good friends—I can still remember the first time I heard his loud, boisterous, and contagious laugh, just like so many others do.
In high school, Will was a tenacious athlete and a natural leader. Personally, I struggled with confidence on the basketball court, but Will always pushed me, constantly reassuring me that I belonged at the varsity level. He would have made a great coach. More than just an athlete, Will was as exceptional a friend as they come. Many remember him as a unifier—someone who went out of his way to include everyone and make others feel at ease. He didn’t just make friends; he helped create friendships.
Words to describe my friend Will: Hard worker. Provider. Loving and devoted father and husband.
However, at some point—though we will never know exactly when—Will began battling severe depression, hiding it from those around him. Over time, the weight of it became too much, and he turned to self-medication. During those years, family, friends, and professionals did all they could to help, but in the end, Will lost his battle.
I spent a lot of time with Will in his final year. On his good days, his favorite thing to do was talk about the love he had for his kids and reminisce about the good old days. We often talked about getting back into shape, signing up for a 5K, hitting the gym, and biking. And that’s what brings me here today.
A few times, we discussed signing up for a marathon together. That’s why I’ve decided to keep my end of the bargain and Finish For Will. I'll be running in the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN on Saturday June 21st. I’m not trying to break any records, but if you have the means to donate, all proceeds will go to Tallgrass Recovery and Sober Living. I took Will to Tallgrass a few times—although he never was a guest at Tallgrass he really believed in the place and found comfort in visiting there. Tallgrass delivers an effective program targeting the mental health crisis.
Here is their website: https://tallgrassrecovery.org/
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about Will. And please, if you or anyone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. Help is out there.
—Brian "BJ" Knowlton
