For Coach Ed

**FINAL UPDATE** Aug. 28, 2024

Dear SFAS Family,

Thank you for the outpouring of love and support this past week, and for sharing your memories of Coach Ed with us. We laid Ed to rest in a touching ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 24, and would like to acknowledge Jake and Josh W., Chris and Anthony W., Steve D., and Pastor Brent for their powerful tributes, and Tim C. for his soulful rendition of Amazing Grace.

Once again, we want to thank you for your generosity and prayers over the past year. Ed could feel your love every day. It is fitting that for a fundraiser dedicated to one of our favorite competitors, we surpassed our GoFundMe goal not once, but twice.

Later this year, we will create a booklet for the Wietholder family that contains all of the messages, memories, and photos that have been shared in social media. If you would like to contribute, you can post a message on:

We will keep this page online as a memorial to Coach Ed, but this update will serve as the last message on the channel.

A final thought:

Coach Ed gave us the best version of himself that he could give us, every day. He motivated us to be stronger, to be healthier, to live with more passion, with more love, to keep improving ourselves and who we are. Let his spirit motivate you to be the best version of yourself that you can be, every day.

From the bottom of our hearts,

Coach Ed's Family

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**UPDATE** Aug. 22, 2024

Dear SFAS Family,

Coach Ed's obituary is now online: Edward Kenneth Wietholder.

Viewing and funeral arrangements are set:

Update to yesterday's message: In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Coach Ed to the Glioblastoma Research Organization. Any contributions to the GoFundMe campaign not used, and any new contributions that are received henceforth, will be donated to GRO in Coach Ed's name.

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**UPDATE** Aug. 21, 2024

Dear SFAS family,

It is with a heavy heart that we deliver this update.

Earlier today, Coach Ed passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. We take comfort in the fact that he is now at peace. On the wings of angels may he fly.

We are meeting with Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills this week and will share arrangements once details are confirmed.

Any contributions to the GoFundMe campaign not used, and any new contributions that are received henceforth, will be donated to glioblastoma research. 

Thank you for your compassion and prayers over the past 8 months. If you would like to post a message, memory, or photo on this page, we will create a booklet for the Wietholder Family later this year.

With love,

Coach Ed's Family

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**UPDATE** May 22, 2024

Hello friends and family. We are writing with an update on Coach Ed's progress.

The month of April was challenging: Ed received treatment for pneumonia and additional radiation to treat a new growth. But in the weeks since, he's been more active, getting good reports at speech therapy, and is enjoying the NBA playoffs same as ever.

Next scan is scheduled for mid June. He continues to inspire us as he works hard every day! Thank you for your continued prayers and we'll post an update in a few weeks.

Sincerely,

Coach Ed's Family

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**UPDATE** April 2, 2024

Hello friends and family. A quick update to share:

Ed has completed six weeks of chemo and radiation and is feeling ok! He is able to do some light exercises at SFAS, is reading nightly, and is following March Madness same as ever. He appreciates each and every one of you for your generosity and support. The next round of tests will be in May so thank you for your continued prayers and well wishes.

Sincerely,

Friends and Family of Coach Ed

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**UPDATE** March 1, 2024

To our Strength Fitness and Speed Family,

We cannot find the words to express our appreciation for the outpouring of support you have shown these past few weeks. Your compassion strengthens Ed and fuels his desire to battle with everything he's got. God bless you all. Thank you for the kindness and generosity. See you soon!

-Coach Ed, Julie, Jake and Josh Wietholder

Organizer's Note:

We raised over $57,000 from 470+ donations, surpassing our original goal of 20,000 AND surpassing our second goal of $50,000. Just amazing support and we thank you again for rallying behind Coach Ed! We will begin the process of transferring funds to the Wietholder family next week.

With sincere appreciation,

Friends and Family of Coach Ed

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**UPDATE** Feb. 21, 2024

Coach Ed's page will be active until Feb. 29.

All gifts will be transferred to the Wietholder family in March 2024.

Thank you for your support.

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**UPDATE** Feb. 19, 2024

Dear friends and family,

Once again you have overwhelmed us with your generosity and support for Coach Ed.

We have received over $53,000 from 400+ donations in just 7 days. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

As word of Coach Ed’s battle continues to spread through the community, we know that there are friends who still want to support this effort, so we will leave the GoFundMe page online until Feb. 29. All gifts will be transferred to the Wietholder family on March 1, 2024.

Thank you again for rallying behind Coach Ed. This is an amazing outpouring of love and we are so grateful for you.

With sincere appreciation,

Friends and Family of Coach Ed

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**UPDATE** Feb. 17, 2024

Dear friends and family, 

We are blown away at the support we have received for Coach Ed. We reached $20,000 from ~200 donations in just 72 hours—thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

We received a message from GoFundMe saying that because we reached our goal so quickly they recommend we increase that goal to make room for additional donors who want to support Coach Ed. It is incredibly uplifting to get a message like that. 

Thank you for rallying behind Coach Ed. This is an amazing outpouring of love and we are so grateful for you. 

With sincere appreciation, 

Friends and Family of Coach Ed

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Dear friends,

On January 16, Ed Wietholder, founder and president of Strength Fitness and Speed in Pleasant Hills, underwent unexpected emergency brain surgery due to a tumor that had grown suddenly and impacted his speech, memory, and motor skills. We have since learned that the tumor is cancerous so Ed will begin chemo and radiation in February.

He has a long road ahead of him before he’s back in the training room, but if anyone on Earth has the determination to defeat brain cancer, it is Coach Ed!

If you've met him once, you know what a devoted family man, loyal friend, and exceptional role model he is. Ed and SFAS just celebrated their 25th anniversary of training athletes of all ages and skill levels to find a higher level of strength, athleticism, and mental health. He has coached and mentored thousands of young athletes dating back to the 1990s, when he began training clients inside the basement of his home before growing the business into a successful sports performance center on Old Curry Hollow Road.

Please consider supporting Ed as he recovers from this life-changing event. He will be taking a break from training at SFAS as he receives treatments; and as a self-employed small business owner in Pittsburgh’s south hills, not working regularly will take its toll.

Your generosity will help Ed and the Wietholder family get through this tough time by contributing to:

• medical payments for speech, physical, and occupational therapies,

• bills, groceries, and other household and life essentials,

• additional unforeseen expenses associated with his recovery.

Your support will inspire Ed to fight every step of the way. Thank you in advance.

With appreciation,

Friends and Family of Coach Ed