West Leechburg's Semper Gratus raises $30K for Plum girl, Cerebral Palsy research

The tallies are in, and a West Leechburg charity has 30,000 reasons to be always grateful.

The Shamrock Shuffle 5K race, 1K fun walk and dance held in West Leechburg last month raised $30,000, with the money going to help a Plum girl living with spastic cerebral palsy and for cerebral palsy research.

Semper Gratus, which means “always grateful,” put on the event, raising about $5,000 more than last year.

Plum’s Maelynn Tribendis, 4, was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy when she was 18 months old.

She is in therapy and learning how to use a walker and wheelchair — all to help her get around and build upper body strength, said her mother, Kaitlyn Tribendis.

On most days, Kaitlyn lifts Maelynn in and out of the car and up and down the steps.

Thanks to Semper Gratus, Maelynn’s family is getting two stairlifts from Blackburn’s Medical Equipment in Tarentum to be installed in the near future and wider doors for the family’s house that will accommodate Maelynn’s walker and wheelchair.

Lowes Home Improvement is donating materials for the work, and Michael Garrone, a Leechburg-based contractor, is providing the labor and know-how.

“Kaitlyn (Tribendis) works, but she has medical bills, equipment, therapy costs and the cost of gasoline,” said Ian Coyle, Semper Gratus founder and a Leechburg native.

Maelynn wasn’t the only winner at the Shamrock Shuffle.

Semper Gratus also reached out to 19-year-old Brendan Miller of Canfield, Ohio. He has the same disease as Maelynn, but his parents and therapists worked with him enough that he can now walk under his own power.

He was given a $500 check for college expenses, but he didn’t have it long.

“He decided to pay it forward and gave the money to Kaitlyn,” Coyle said. “What an example.”

The Miller and Tribendis families met and talked about how Brendan is working for a sports radio station and attending college despite his challenges.

“Brendan is so well mannered, well spoken and humble,” Kaitlyn Tribendis said.

Part of the money raised at the event came from the sale of donated gift baskets from across the area. UPMC co-sponsored the fundraiser and donated a Sidney Crosby jersey. Penguins tickets were donated by another group.

Kaitlyn Tribendis said she was surprised and overwhelmed by the gifts that also included toys for Maelynn and Maelynn’s 5-year-old sister.

“Brendan and Mrs. Miller talked with me about CP and what to expect. She is so gracious and knowledgeable. They have become new important friends,” Kaitlyn Tribendis said.

Semper Gratus also continues to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Coyle said. The group has raised thousands of dollars for that society over the past several years.

Miller didn’t walk away empty-­handed.

He got the Crosby jersey.