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Semper Gratus' Santa Shuffle charity run and dinner raises money for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | TribLIVE.com
Valley News Dispatch

Semper Gratus' Santa Shuffle charity run and dinner raises money for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Tawnya Panizzi
Tawnya Panizzi
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Mary Told, 43, of Sarver dressed in festive Christmas attire while participating in the Semper Gratus Santa Shuffle 5K race held outside the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall on Saturday, July 10, 2021. About 170 people participated.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Semper Gratus recipient Chrystal Gamble Fry’s portrait is attached to each winners award in the Santa Shuffle 5K race held near the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Fry, 36, of Apollo lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia earlier this year.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
2020 Semper Gratus recipent Nora Caporali 4, crosses the finish line of the 1 mile course of the Santa Shuffle 5K race event Saturday, July 10, 2021 near the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Top: Runners and walkers start the Semper Gratus Santa Shuffle 5K race outside the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall. Above left: Semper Gratus recipient Chrystal Gamble Fry’s portrait is attached to each winner’s award. Fry, 36, of Apollo lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia this year. Above right: Rich Pierce of Pittsburgh wins the race with a time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Rich Pierce of Pittsburgh wins the Semper Gratus Santa Shuffle 5K race event Saturday, July 10, 2021 in West Leechburg with a time of 19:30.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
Rachel Shearer, 37, of Allegheny Township strides toward the finish line of the Semper Gratus Santa Shuffle 5K race held in West Leechburg on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Shearer won first place among woman, and was fourth overall.

There was no snow or reindeer, but the Santa Shuffle went off without a hitch Saturday in West Leechburg.

The 5K/one-mile foot race, hosted by the nonprofit Semper Gratus, was expected to raise $15,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Participants, many in holiday-themed costumes, stepped off at 9 a.m. at the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall along Gosser Street.

Ian Coyle, founder and president of Semper Gratus — Latin for “always grateful” — said supporters have remained ardent despite the pandemic.

Hand sanitizer was placed along the course.

Later in the day, the firehall hosted a Santa Shuffle dance, which honored the late Chrystal Dawn Fry. Fry died this year from complications of acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood.

Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.

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