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Runners shrug off cold in Pittsburgh Undie Run to help fight neurofibromatosis

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Runners shrug off cold in Pittsburgh Undie Run to help fight neurofibromatosis


“Aren’t you freezing?”

The question was painfully obvious. But it was hard to avoid repeating it Saturday to runners young and old who huffed and puffed their way across the Roberto Clemente Bridge from Downtown Pittsburgh to the North Shore, wearing enthusiastic smiles, colorful skivvies and not much more in subfreezing temperatures.

The 300 or so participants in Cupid’s Undie Run 2024, an event that raises money to fight neurofibromatosis, had to brush off occasional snowflakes and temperatures near 30 degrees for their mile-or-so run that began on the North Shore next to PNC Park, crossed the Allegheny River and then returned.

Neurofibromatosis refers to three conditions involving the development of tumors that might affect the brain, spinal cord and the nerves that send signals between the brain and spinal cord and all other parts of the body, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most tumors are benign, although some can become cancerous.

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Similar events are held in 30 other U.S. cities, organizers said.

Bright red bathrobes, boxer shorts sprinkled with hearts and superhero outfits gave a zany feel to the event held three days after Valentine’s Day.

But the seriousness behind the run also was clear.

Kevin Doane, 52, a truck driver from Dubois, lost his 10-year-old daughter, Paige, a few years ago.

“One of her tumors became cancerous,” he said.

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He has taken part in similar events in other cities as well as in Pittsburgh. This year, he came dressed in a Buzz Lightyear vest.

Surrounding him and shivering in the cold were Amanda Cenci, 26, of Baldwin; Leah Cervenak, 28 of South Park; Logan Himich, 30, of Robinson; and Madeline Fanning, 23 of Philadelphia, four pediatric nurses from UPMC Children’s Hospital, some of whom cared for Paige during her medical stays.

They came out of respect for her memory.

‘’It doesn’t matter what the weather is like to us. The point is to be uncomfortable,” Himich said. “That’s the life she lived, and we want to do this to honor her.”

Returning from the bridge to the North Shore, another runner, Jason Hritz, 48, of Greensburg, didn’t deny going shirtless and in shorts in February was a challenge.

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“It’s a little bit chilly, but it’s a good cause,” he said. Wearing pink, heart-shaped glasses, he called himself a member of “Tyler’s Army,” referring to a child in Windber, Somerset County, and family friend who has neurofibromatosis and has been 10 years chemo-free.

Before and after the run that began about 2 p.m., participants sought warmth and, in some cases imbibed, inside McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, a North Shore establishment near PNC Park. Buffet-style food helped warm up the runners.

Some kept up a brisk pace. Others walked at least part of the route. Many had red faces from the cold.

Brooke Bissell, event director with Cupid’s Charity, said the run benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and raises money for, and awareness of, the battle against neurofibromatosis.

Runners ranged in age from 21 to 70.

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Bissell said the event’s unusual theme actually makes it easier to generate conversations about neurofibromatosis.

“What brings more attention to a cause than a bunch of people running in their underwear in the freezing cold in February?” she asked with a laugh.

Bill Schackner is a TribLive reporter covering higher education. Raised in New England, he joined the Trib in 2022 after 29 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. Previously, he has written for newspapers in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. He can be reached at bschackner@triblive.com.



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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh officials help rescue a deer from the Highland Park Reservoir

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Pittsburgh officials help rescue a deer from the Highland Park Reservoir



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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh officials helped rescue a deer from the Highland Park reservoir last week.

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According to the Pittsburgh Public Safety Facebook page, animal care and control officers saw a deer in the Highland Park Reservoir on Nov. 21.

After several attempts to free the deer, officials were able to help get the deer to safety and out of the reservoir. Pictures showed the deer standing in the middle of the reservoir, while it was empty. 

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Pittsburgh Public Safety Facebook Page


However, this is not the first time a deer has been stuck in the Highland Park Reservoir. In 2017, rescue crews had to help a deer that got stuck on Oct. 12. The rescue efforts began at about 2 p.m. that afternoon, and the deer was finally rescued near 3:40 p.m. 

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The biggest difference was that the rescue occurred while the reservoir was full of water. Crews had to use an inflatable boat and a lasso around the deer’s antlers to get him securely out of the water. 



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Radio host goes off on Pittsburgh Steelers star: ‘A flat-out disappointment’

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Radio host goes off on Pittsburgh Steelers star: ‘A flat-out disappointment’


2022 was the last time Minkah Fitzpatrick caused a turnover. Once known as the NFL’s premier ballhawk that all teams had to be worried about, Fitzpatrick has faded into the background of the Steelers’ defense. In 2023, he missed seven games due to hamstring and knee injuries. Now, in 2024, he is back at free safety, but Fitzpatrick still has not made the big-time plays.

According to most charting statistics, Fitzpatrick has the worst season of his career. Pro Football Focus has him charted for 18 receptions on 24 targets, allowing a passer rating of 135.8 and 13.8 yards per reception. Tight ends have victimized Fitzpatrick.

93.7 the Fan radio host Joe Starkey has had enough of the excuses for Fitzpatrick’s play. Starkey believes Fitzpatrick is ‘a flat-out disappointment’ this season, and the Steelers should have a serious conversation about his contract and role.

“Minkah Fitzpatrick is a flat-out disappointment,” Starkey said. “He’s given up a lot. I don’t think they’re just ignoring him the entire game. This isn’t Darrelle Revis in college.”

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Fitzpatrick’s lack of splash plays is concerning, but the Steelers have not allowed many explosive plays this season and have the No. 4 scoring defense in the NFL for a reason. His coverage over the top has been effective in that regard. Yet, the Steelers want to see more splash plays from him, too.

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Pittsburg father killed in hit-and-run crash after leaving church

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Pittsburg father killed in hit-and-run crash after leaving church


A father of two was fatally struck while walking home from church in Pittsburg on Friday night.

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Police said they received a call about 9:15 p.m. about a crash in the 1500 block of Willow Pass Road and when officers arrived they found Joaquin Reveulta Galvez in the middle of the street.

Revuelta Galvez was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.

“There was some vehicle debris and the lone victim and that was the extent of the scene,” Cpt. Philip Galer said, adding that there was a headlight of a vehicle also there at the crash site.

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In a news release, police said the entire crash was captured on surveillance video.

Revuelta Galvez’s family said investigators told them that he appeared to stumble and fall to the ground before the vehicle hit him.

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“He was wearing sandals, and then he fell and landed in the street and a car ran over him,” said his partner Maribel Macias. The couple have two grown sons, and Macias said the young men were close with their father.

Macias said the family didn’t know about the crash until one of them noticed the emergency responders and police vehicles around the corner from the mobile home park where they live.

Now, during the holidays, she and her sons are grieving for Revuelta Galvez.

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They said Revuelta Galvez had already been through so much. He had been recovering from brain surgery last year, but despite his health problems, he was a friendly neighbor and loving father with a good heart.

A relative said they saw him at the Sovereign Shepherd Church just a half hour before the crash, and he had bought some pupusas to bring back home.

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His family wonders how someone could drive away and leave him there.

“If they had called 9-1-1… he would be alive right now. We don’t know how long he was on the ground bleeding, dying,” Macias said.

A relative set up a GoFundMe page to help the family pay for burial and funeral expenses.

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Galer said investigators are withholding details from the surveillance footage to protect the investigation.

He said they do have leads on the vehicle that struck Revuelta Galvez.

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Anyone with information on the hit-and-run crash is asked to contact Pittsburg police at (925) 646-2442 or contact Officer James Pena at (925) 252-4146.

Jana Katsuyama is a reporter for KTVU. Email Jana at jana.katsuyama@fox.com. Call her at 510-326-5529. Or follow her on Twitter @JanaKTVU and read her other reports on her bio page. 



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