YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Long-distance running is not for the weak hearted. By the nature of the sport, it will bring physical pain and mental anguish to every cross country runner who competes on a college team.

For Liam King, however, the pain of arduous training and pushing through psychological barriers pales in comparison to losing both of his parents within the span of three years. The Young Harris College senior is truly a study in perseverance and a deep belief in his Christian faith.

"There's been a lot of highs and a lot of lows," the Mountain Lions' top runner readily admits. "Looking back at my life as a whole and looking forward, I'm trying to make something great out of this. Being very religious, I'm going to walk with God and find purpose through Him."

However, this is not to suggest it's been an easy journey for King. Growing up literally two miles from the college campus in Young Harris, his unthinkable travails have been on public display during the worst chapter of his life.

Liam attended Towns County High School, where his father, Daren, taught math and mother, Sabrina, served as an English teacher and then counselor. The smallness of the community (population: 804) meant everyone knows everyone.

So when King's mother was diagnosed with cancer during his senior year in high school, the entire town was well aware. Liam was very close to his mom and regularly accompanied her to chemotherapy sessions. Whether in a grocery store, restaurant or at church, it was nearly an every-day occurrence for well-wishers to approach him and ask how Mrs. King was doing.

"I couldn't do anything here without being noticed," said Liam, who also suggested that driving a bright lime green Ford Fiesta around town at the time didn't help matters either. "Everybody knew everything about me and my family."

King, an All-Conference Carolinas cross country runner and triple major with a 4.0 grade-point average as a conference Elite 23 Award winner for academics, also recognizes the positive flip side of growing up in a small town.

"People really care here," he said. "I think that's unique to this area. They are there for you. That support system made life 10 times easier."

Not that losing your mother to cancer is ever easy.

"What I remember most was her laugh and that everywhere we went, it would take 30 minutes to leave because she told everyone she loved them and would hug everybody," Liam recalled. "Even during our trips to chemo when I drove her at age 16, we would laugh about our favorite movies or enjoy music. I'll always remember how she loved others. She would emphasize that we need to find joy. She would say that if you find joy, nothing can stop you. It was very Christ-like and inspiring. I'll always remember that."

Yet, King admits it was hard to find joy when his mother passed away that February of his senior year in high school. While he appreciated all the kind words and compassion shown by local friends–and even a condolence letter he received from Young Harris President Dr. Drew Van Horn to the incoming freshman–Liam felt a major void in his life.

He began to fill that void with his running, earning All-State cross country honors for his second straight season at Towns County High School. While his mother had served as his role model in academics–stressing that "nobody can ever take your education away from you"-- it was his father who inspired him as an athlete. Daren King had been a long-distance runner himself at Piedmont College.

"I hung his varsity letter plaque in my bedroom for motivation," said Liam. "I always wanted to beat his times."

After his competitive career ended, Liam's dad still ran marathons and even coached cross country at the high school prior to the younger King arriving at Towns County High.

Meanwhile, Liam and his father and younger sister, Maeleigh (MAY-lee), tried to find normalcy as a single-parent family the year of Sabrina King's death.

When Liam received a scholarship offer down the road at Young Harris College, he felt compelled to accept it to stay close to home. As a goal-oriented student and athlete, King soon excelled as a collegian. He was named to the conference's President's Honor Roll as a freshmen, majoring in finance, accounting and management.

A honor roll student again as a sophomore, he also began to blossom as a long-distance runner and was named to the College Sports Communicators Division II Men's Track & Field/Cross Country All-District Team.

Described as "almost obsessive and a perfectionist" by his college cross country coach, Matthew Logan, King was clearly driven in both his athletic and academic pursuits at Young Harris.

"Liam is very particular," Coach Logan said with a chuckle. "He's also really stubborn and that's what makes him a helluva runner. We've had some battles, but it always comes from a place of caring and wanting to be the best."

While Liam appeared to be coping with his mother's absence and the rigors of college life, the summer after his sophomore year turned into an unfathomable nightmare.

Working at a maintenance job on campus one night around 11:30 p.m., he received a phone call from his sister that would forever change their young lives. Their father, age 52, had suffered a massive heart attack.

"I drove home as fast as I could," Liam shared. "He was lying face down and I flipped him over to do CPR. I called 911 for an ambulance."

Liam also called his coach. However, by the time Coach Logan arrived at the hospital, Daren King was pronounced dead. Liam said he will never forget the kindness and caring given by his coach.

"I just remember him walking through the (hospital) doors," he said. "He just looked at me. I went toward him and fell apart. I remember giving him a long hug. He said 'we're going to get through this.' That was a very special moment. I don't know too many coaches that would have been there."

Later, Liam actually found some levity in the situation.

"I made fun of him a little after the fact. He looked ridiculous. He was wearing shorts and a jacket, looking kind of ridiculous" But that light-heartedness lasted for only seconds. Soon, Liam's mind turned to an uncertain future. Where would he and his 13-year-old sister live? And with who? Initially, they stayed with an aunt and uncle (Faron and Rebecca King) living outside of Young Harris. Then Amy and Tim Barrett, family friends whose son Peyton had played soccer, basketball and cross country in high school with Liam and often provided car rides to and from games, became their guardians.

"My aunt and uncle kind of oversaw everything at the beginning and really helped us," said LIam. "And since then, the Barretts have been absolutely wonderful."

President Van Horn also recognized that King was facing a sudden crisis and he recommended to the school's board of trustees to provide additional financial assistance so he could continue to attend Young Harris with no out-of-pocket expenses. And as one might imagine, Coach Logan and Liam also have formed a uniquely close bond.

"At first after his dad died, Liam thought about transferring to another school to get away from his hometown. But considering everything, he decided not to. We have since formed a really close relationship, well beyond a coach and athlete. In many ways, running has helped him heal."

Contributing to that healing process further is Rev. Adam Daniels, the college's chaplain. Liam first became acquainted with Davis when he took his class, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus," during his sophomore year.

"Besides discussing the class, we talked a lot about my story of losing a mother," said Liam. "He would check in from time to time, making sure that my mental health was fine. He always told me that grieving is a lifelong process."

So, when his father succumbed to a heart attack, King didn't hesitate to reach out to Rev. Daniels.

"I remember texting him the day after and he immediately responded," Liam recalled. "He said, 'let's meet whenever you're ready.' And there was something he said that stuck out to me. He said in his own experience, when you lose somebody it's not what others say that matters. It's just that they were there. I don't remember the conversations, but it was just comforting that they were there."

One particular story the chaplain shared did resonate with Liam, however.

"I told him about my stepfather being killed by a drunk driver when I was about the same age as Liam," said Rev. Daniels. "My mom was in the hospital, calling relatives and then arranging for the funeral. One of the things we talked about is that it's just difficult. Nobody's situation is the same. The truth is, a lot of people have gone through difficult stuff. You're going to get through this and good things will come out of it. There will be terrible days but you'll be able to look back and appreciate the journey."

The chaplain also encouraged Liam to continue his running.

"I tried to be with him, along with the coach," Daniels said. "The grieving continues but you have to go through it. Liam wanted to honor his father, who had even coached him for awhile when he was young. I think he feels that running is not just a physical thing but a spiritual one in memory of his dad."

Understandably, once his father was gone, Liam's primary concern was his younger sister. While in shock and trying to process his dad's death, his thoughts centered on Maeleigh, who would be entering middle school. Over the past two years, the two sibling's relationship has grown quite close. They see each other three or four times a week. They go to movies together. Maeleigh attends most of Liam's races, while he supports her now as an eighth-grade cheerleader at sports events.

Rev. Daniels credits Liam's deep Christian beliefs in him coping with these tragedies.

"When his mom died, that really opened him up to spirituality and faith," Daniels said. "It only opened wider when his dad died. It made him question what life and death was all about. And he leaned into it. He now realizes that his situation–and the way he has responded to it–can be of help to other people. He's really remarkable."

Beyond his mentorship, Rev. Daniels may have also changed Liam's life in another profound way. He suggested that King consider attending theology school overseas last summer. As Liam became more and more intrigued, Daniels reached out to a connection at The Wesley House, which is affiliated with Cambridge University in England.

Young Harris sends one student to the program each year, and King was chosen to represent the school last summer for a two-and-half month curriculum.

"It was beyond incredible," said Liam. "Just the atmosphere. Everything is so tightly knit in a small space. Churches everywhere. I remember going into a lot of chapels and being brought to tears. There definitely was spiritual healing."

It allowed him time to heal and reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

"I spent a lot of time dealing with my situation and, posing the question, 'what is all this for? 'Looking back, it made me realize that I have an opportunity to minister to others what I have been through. What God has taught me is what I went through is not to benefit me but to benefit others."

The experience has clearly changed the Young Harris senior. While he may still utilize the business side of his academic major, Liam now plans to enter a seminary once he earns his bachelor degree.

"I'm a big believer that all the things we go through and do are meant for some higher purpose," said Liam, who says he will consider a future church position on the financial side or at the pulpit. "I've already had lots of opportunities to speak on campus and at my church (a local Baptist congregation), and I've rather enjoyed it."

He considers Emory, Duke and Fuller as the seminary schools "at the top of my list." Liam also plans to keep running for personal enjoyment, perhaps entering community 10K races or half and full marathons.

Logan, his coach and friend, believes Liam will excel as he pursues the next chapter of his life.

"He's just so driven and intense," said the Young Harris coach. "He's also deeply thoughtful. He always wants to know the answers to deeper questions, to get to the bottom of things. And that intensity isn't going away. Whatever he tackles, he's going to tackle head on."

Yet, despite his dogged, single-mindedness, Liam can lighten his load with a sense of humor.

"He's also very funny," the coach continued. "I think he is able to laugh at his limitations. I guess sometimes if you don't laugh, you'll cry. What's really great about Liam, though, is he's a person who's never going to give up. He's going through his own journey and he's learned how to prioritize. Losing both your parents, you realize there's a host of things that aren't that important."

King says he's grateful to have attended a Christian-based college during these tumultuous times.

"It has allowed me to find a community," he said. "There's something special about this place. Like anywhere, there are a lot of people hurting here. But we find solutions by being there for each other. Especially our team, which has learned a lot both on and off the cross country course. I have great teammates who are willing to go that extra step of fellowship to carry each other's burden. We celebrate each other. When I'm finished here, I don't think I'll remember my run times. I'll remember going out to dinner or being on a bus trip with the guys. They'll be good memories."

For Liam King, the adversity and sorrow of the past few years has led to the love and support of so many people on or near the Young Harris campus, from the school president and chaplain, to his coach, to his teammates and professors, to his relatives and guardians. Life can be funny that way.

Bob Rose is a longtime sports public relations executive who has worked for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, the NFL Cardinals, Cal, Stanford and other organizations. Bob works with the Conference Carolinas office to help tell the stories of the tremendous student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Conference Carolinas.