PKstrong: A Customizable Activewear Business Inspired by Emotional Loss

In today’s world, thousands of people walk or run for a cause. Many athletes partake in events in celebration of someone battling a fatal disease or in memory of someone who lost their fight. These participants have a desire to show their support. What better way to communicate their message than in the form of a performance shirt that they can wear at the event.

This is how Shawna Lavelle, owner of PKstrong, felt before running her first half marathon in 2006. She had just discovered that her stepfather, Pat Konewko, was diagnosed with throat cancer. This tragic discovery resulted in her desire to dedicate a piece of athletic apparel in honor of him.