SUDBURY -- Seven recipients have been chosen for this year's YWCA Sudbury Women of Distinction awards gala.

One of those being honoured is Jalee Pelissier.

She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 10. Over the years, she has spent many hours raising awareness, funds, and supporting others who live with the disease.

"I work a lot with Muscular Dystrophy Canada, I've been the ambassador. I work with the Sunshine Foundation as well, because they're a huge impact on my life. I've gone to every firefighter station here in Sudbury and explained what muscular dystrophy is, how it (the organization) helps, and where the money goes towards and put a face to muscular dystrophy," said Pelissier. "They made me honorary firefighter."

Pelissier has raised over $20,000 for muscular dystrophy over the past five years.

Another award recipient for this year is Gillian Schell.

She was nominated for the multiple contributions she made to the community over the years.

"For many years, I was a special education teacher on the board and at the time when special education was fairly new and we were just beginning to work on integrating kids with special educational needs into the mainstream system. I'm also involved in a lot of community things, such as the Out of the Cold program that provides hot meals on Friday nights. Also because of my sponsorship with a wonderful team of the Syrian refugee family who came to us in 2016," said Schell.

The other recipients are: Ashley Kirt, Leslie Kunto, Tannys Laughren, Mary Michasiw, and the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Sudbury chapter.

Even though this is the 14th year of the awards, officials say narrowing down the list of recipients is never easy.

"We know that there are so many women that are doing great things in our community. We hear about them and then there's the, what you would call, the 'unsung heroes'. Women that are just going about their day doing what they can to help mentor women. To be role models for women, groundbreakers. It's a challenge to pick only seven because each one of them has such great merit," said Marlene Gorman, with YWCA Sudbury.

The awards gala will take place on May 2.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the Power of Being a Girl conference, which takes place in the fall.