It started with a Thanksgiving Day run to raise money for a friend's husband with terminal cancer, but now "The Gratitude Run" is a formal 501©(3), helping families in our community.

Founder, Chris Weiss, said his friend, Jessica Smith's husband, was diagnosed with cancer, and a week after he passed, the community came together for a Thanksgiving morning 5K walk/run.

Runners get moving each year in the Gratitude Run Chris Weiss

With little expectation for that inaugural event in Peters Township, Weiss was surprised to see 300 people in the community show up.

Together, they raised about $100,000 for the Smith family.

"It makes you realize that you're not alone," Jessica Smith said. "I think that it's also important to recognize that everybody's going through something, and we may not

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