The Applebaum Family

Noah and Ashley are parents of three grade-school kids. In 2020, they moved to Peters Township to be a part of our school district. They’re very active in the community through sports and school.

In 2020, Noah was diagnosed with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, despite not being a smoker. He had a lobectomy on the lower lung and took medication with regular scans. After two years, scans showed his lungs were clear. Shortly after, he tripped and fell, causing radiating nerve pain from his hip to feet. A subsequent CT scan showed that cancer had spread to Noah’s pelvis. He switched to a new medication which had many side effects, including infections in toes and fingers, severe pain sensitivity and open sores on his head and chest. In June 2025, he was rear-ended in a car accident, which led to another CT scan that showed the cancer had spread to his shoulder, spine, ribs, pelvis and increased presence in his brain.

Noah is on a clinical trial which was fast tracked by the FDA. If the clinical trial does not work, he will begin chemo. The family is trying to find secure life insurance, but most insurers require up to five years of remission. Noah has life insurance through his job but will lose it if he has to stop working.

Noah is a respiratory therapist and is still working full time, although he has missed work close to two years of the last five due to cancer treatments and side effects. Ashley is a registered nurse and has been picking up extra shifts to help with medical expenses.

The Applebaums are a strong, hopeful and deserving family we should all rally behind.

The Morford Family

Chris and Shayna Morford have deep roots in Peters Township, as Chris is a 2007 graduate of PTHS. They have two grade-school children and grandparents living under their roof. Chris coaches local sports teams and gives his time to help adults in recovery, while Shayna volunteers at school.

Chris developed a cyst in his foot in 2022. Doctors attempted to treat it for two years until it got so massive that he couldn’t wear shoes. Finally in 2024, doctors removed the cyst and discovered that it was a very rare cancer. They cut all the skin off his foot and removed soft tissue up to his ankle. Chris had a wound vac for months, several more surgeries and could not walk.

In 2025, Chris had his leg amputated. Doctors say the cancer will return, but they just do not know when or where. Chris will get full body scans every three months for the rest of his life. Chris, who was a UPS driver, is unable to work. Disability insurance has stopped paying, and they have battled insurance to cover medical supplies. Including having to pay for Chris’ prosthetic.

The Morford family is a loving crew who has hit hard times. They need our support.

The Krueger Family

Stephen and Leslie Krueger have lived in Peters Township since 2011. They have three children and are incredibly active at St. Benedict the Abbott as well as participating in high school cross country. Stephen is also a veteran of the U.S. Army.

In 2019, Stephen was in a car accident where he was stopped and another driver going 50 mph hit him. He was released from the hospital with no diagnosis of concussion but was sore for months. Leslie noticed differences in him, such as being a little spacy, forgetting things, showing up late, confusion and getting angry. Stephen went to see a neurologist and had an EEG and MRI. But there were still no answers. Finally in 2023, he was recommended to a new doctor who diagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 

Stephen suffers from light sensitivity, exhaustion, word selection, trouble with reading and the concept of dates and time. He is relearning executive functioning skills.

Stephen was a developer/project manager, but his injuries make it a challenge to grasp the concept of dates, information and times. He has been denied social security due to the agency not agreeing that he has a disability.

Despite their hurdles, the Kruegers are giving back by creating a support group for TBI caregivers and survivors. Plans to begin a TBI in-person support group for the South Hills area are in production. If you, or someone you know has suffered a TBI, please contact Stephen and Leslie at krueger15317@verizon.net.

The Gratitude Run is bigger than 3.1 miles. It's a chance to support local families in need. Our Peters Township community nominates different families each year to benefit from the race. There are turkey trots all over on Thanksgiving Day. But only the Gratitude Run is a true celebration of compassion.

On a day dedicated to giving thanks, we can show our gratitude by joining together to support families that need a boost. The course is an out-and-back on a paved portion of the famed, wooded Montour Trial. Enjoy a sprint or a stroll on a crisp autumn morning among a crowd of all ages who share a common love for giving. The Gratitude Run is an outpouring of love that impacts givers and families in need for life.

The Gratitude Run is dedicated to fostering a spirit of unity and compassion through our unwavering commitment to supporting families in our community. Our mission is to cultivate a sense of togetherness and gratitude by organizing annual runs that not only promote a healthy lifestyle but also serve as a platform to raise funds and resources for local families in need. With every stride, we aim to build a stronger, more connected community that embraces the values of empathy, kindness and support. Through the Gratitude Run, we aspire to make a lasting impact on the lives of families in our community, creating a legacy of compassion that extends far beyond the finish line.

We’re offering three sponsorship levels to help uplift local families.

$2000 Sponsorship (only one available)

• Exclusive starting line introduction
• Your company sign (individual) displayed along the race route
• A Sponsor-Spotlight thanks from The Gratitude Run on our Facebook and Instagram pages
• Logo on our website
• Logo on the day-of-race sponsor sign (group)
• Logo on the official race t-shirt

$1000 Sponsorship

• Your company sign (individual) displayed along the race route
• A Sponsor-Spotlight thanks from The Gratitude Run on our Facebook and Instagram pages
• Logo on our website
• Logo on the day-of-race sponsor sign (group)
• Logo on the official race t-shirt

$500 Sponsorship

• Logo on our website
• Logo on the day-of-race sponsor sign (group)
• Logo on the official race t-shirt

Join us in making The Gratitude Run an unforgettable experience for all participants while showcasing your brand in a powerful and positive light.

Ready to explore partnership possibilities? Contact us today at chrisaweiss15@gmail.com and let's create a sponsorship partnership that works for you.

In 2023, the inaugural Gratitude Run benefitted the Smith family. All of our efforts are dedicated to their beloved husband and father, Aaron, who embodied courage, compassion, kindness, laughter and love. Aaron's memory drives us to help those in need because it's exactly what he would do for others. Thank you, Aaron.

Jeff Serena is a Navy veteran with the reputation of rising with the sun and simply not stopping, even while battling stage four cancer. With his wife Kristin and son Casey, the Serena family benefitted from our fundraising in 2024. As Jeff is a person who would literally give you the shirt off his back, we were happy to return the favor to him and his family.