Board Member Spotlight: Peyton Cherry

Professional portrait of Peyton Cherry.

Passion. It’s a word that permeates and drives so much of our work at Survivor Fitness. It fuels the determination of our participants as they reclaim their health and rebuild their lives through our programs. It drives the dedication of the trainers, therapists, and dietitians who guide them on their journey. And it underpins the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, supporters, advocates, and board members who help us amplify our impact.

Passion is also the perfect word to describe one of our dedicated board members, Peyton Cherry. A native Knoxvillian, Peyton’s connection to Survivor Fitness began through mutual friends who introduced him to our founders, Aaron and Meg Grunke. Hearing Aaron’s story of resilience during his own battle with cancer deeply inspired Peyton, prompting him to get involved.

A Heart for Transformation

“I was truly inspired not only by Aaron’s story,” Peyton says, “but by all of those who’ve participated in the Survivor Fitness programs. The organization strives to do good on the largest possible scale, which truly shows within the community of tightly knit individuals who participate in this program.”

Peyton’s involvement with Survivor Fitness began to grow as he attended more events, including our Knoxville Survivor Soirée. This event, which featured a live auction, was particularly meaningful to Peyton. The auction raised funds for the financial support and scholarships we offer to participants, ensuring that anyone who needs our programs can access them.

“Seeing all the attendees raise their paddles and donate generously to promote the cause was beyond special to witness,” Peyton reflected.

It’s no surprise then that Peyton’s passion, coupled with his strong ties to the Knoxville community, made him a perfect candidate for our board in 2023. His primary focus is to expand our reach and connect with businesses and individuals who share our mission. He believes this increased exposure will draw in more resources and support and attract a wider range of participants who could benefit from Survivor Fitness programs.

“With the year-over-year growth of Survivor Fitness,” Peyton says with optimism, “the number of people able to join this program is only going to increase. The ability to touch so many lives is amazing, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The Power of Community

Beyond passion, Peyton understands the power of community. As a real estate agent, he witnesses firsthand the profound impact that a strong support network can make for cancer survivors. This understanding resonates deeply with Survivor Fitness’ core values.

“The feeling of having folks around you with similar stories helps to invoke hope among the individuals within it,” Peyton explains. “The Survivor Fitness programs are not only special to me, but to so many within the community.”

At Survivor Fitness, we are incredibly grateful for Peyton’s unwavering passion and boundless energy. His dedication to expanding our reach allows us to empower more cancer survivors as they move towards a happier, healthier future after treatment.

Board Member Spotlight: Chris Guay

Professional portrait of Chris Guay.

Survivor Fitness thrives because of the incredible people who believe in our mission. We’re fortunate to have a board of directors that is comprised of passionate leaders and talented individuals who dedicate their skills and experience to positively impacting the lives of cancer survivors. Chris Guay is a shining example of this dedication.

A native of Brentwood, Tennessee, Chris founded Vitality Living, a leading provider of active independent and assisted living communities. Since its launch in 2016, Vitality Living has flourished under Chris’s leadership, becoming a top senior living company nationwide. His passion for people and commitment to quality service have allowed the organization to serve over 2,000 residents across the country.

Chris’s energy, strategic thinking, and innovative approach are evident in his work at Vitality Living. But it’s his inherent desire to help others that truly inspires him. This desire is what led him to join the Survivor Fitness Board.

Finding a Connection with Survivor Fitness

Chris connected with Survivor Fitness founder Aaron Grunke during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Chris collaborated with Aaron to secure COVID tests for Vitality Living employees and residents, he learned about Aaron’s story and the inspiration behind Survivor Fitness. Chris felt an immediate call to action, compelled to support the organization and its mission.

As Chris became more involved, he discovered a close friend had been one of the program’s first participants following her breast cancer battle. This personal connection further solidified his decision. Cancer touches us all, and Survivor Fitness was making a tangible difference.

“I am new to the organization,” Chris says, “but was drawn to it by Aaron and other survivors’ stories of how going through the Survivor Fitness Program helped them gain not only physical strength but confidence after battling cancer.”

A Personal Connection and a Shared Mission

Personal health and fitness are cornerstones of Chris’s life. Like many, he has witnessed the impact of cancer firsthand.

“I have watched too many loved ones fight this disease,” Chris reflects, “and have seen the negative impacts it has during and after treatments. Gaining the confidence that they are strong and their bodies can be healthy again is one of the most valuable aspects of cancer survivorship.”

Chris firmly believes that supporting an organization aligned with his passion for wellness and fighting cancer is a calling. “I am extremely honored and excited to help more survivors find and experience our program,” he adds.

Since joining the board, Chris has been consistently inspired by the stories of program participants.  Hearing firsthand how Survivor Fitness empowers survivors and transforms their outlook on life fuels his dedication.

For those considering starting the Survivor Fitness program, Chris offers these encouraging words: “Don’t let cancer define you and make you feel weak. Battling the disease takes a mental and physical toll, but our program can help you get your strength back and more.”  These powerful words encapsulate Chris’s unwavering support for our mission.

Survivor Fitness is incredibly grateful to have Chris as a board member. His extensive experience and expertise will be invaluable as we strive to grow and reach more cancer survivors.  But most importantly, Chris’s passion for our mission and his calling to be part of our organization is a powerful asset that will make a difference in the lives of our participants.

To learn more about how we help cancer survivors reclaim their mental health, read more about our program or submit an application today! 

Leadership Spotlight: Meg Grunke

The first time Meg Grunke encountered the harsh reality of cancer face to face was also the moment she met the love of her life. 

Fresh out of college and adjusting to her new life in Nashville, Meg attended a social event where a mutual friend introduced her to Aaron, who is now her husband and a loving father to their twins, James and Anna.

“When you think of spouses that have faced cancer together, you often assume they were together from diagnosis to remission,” said Meg. “I didn’t know Aaron when he was going through treatment. I met him during the aftermath, if you will, before he really started getting back control of his mental and physical health.”

As their relationship grew, Meg learned about Aaron’s life-altering cancer journey that started just a few years before they entered each other’s lives. 

For the future Mrs. Grunke, listening carefully was essential to bonding over an experience that she didn’t share with Aaron in person.

“When we were dating and he was explaining his journey to me, I had him repeat everything over and over because I wanted to know everything that happened in detail,” Meg explained. 

Just four years earlier, at the age of 21, Aaron had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer that required three surgeries and seven rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. 

“He was the closest person to me who had gone through cancer, and knowing what that experience was like—the ups and downs and back and forth between treatment and monitoring—meant genuinely getting to know the man I love,” she added.

By the time they had met, Aaron had already spent three years fighting for his life—the kind of physical, emotional, and spiritual battle that comes at a cost for survivors and those closest to them.

Shortly after they married in 2010, Aaron began the second part of his cancer journey—one to reclaim his physical wellness, restore his mental well-being, and reclaim what he had lost to the disease and its treatment.

“What I had the privilege of witnessing was the evolution and transition between where he was struggling with life after treatment and getting back the control he had lost,” said Meg. “Seeing that transition in him and watching him rediscover this piece of the puzzle that was missing for so long was really powerful.”

Fitness was just one of the interests that Meg and Aaron had in common. So, when Aaron proposed Survivor Fitness as part of a business school project, she quickly saw its potential to help others recovering from cancer.

“Aaron’s the ‘wow’ guy, but I’m the ‘how’ person,” Meg remarked jokingly. “One day, he came home and told me he had filed the paperwork to start Survivor Fitness. That’s when I realized that we were actually going to do this together.”

Today, Survivor Fitness operates across Tennessee to connect cancer survivors with customized, one-on-one fitness training and nutritional counseling to regain strength, stamina, and independence.

As its executive director, Meg  Grunke plays a major role in shaping the board of directors at Survivor Fitness by recruiting leaders who can help the nonprofit grow in size and increase its reach.

“We’ve been very blessed by the people who have entered our lives and have teamed up with Survivor Fitness,” said Meg. “Cancer is something that touches everybody in some form or fashion. Unfortunately, that means you don’t have to look too far to find someone who has fought cancer themselves or who has a loved one who has faced it.”

Reflective of her own leadership style, the foundation of her recruitment strategy is elegantly simple and straightforward.

“Board members need a passion for changing people’s lives,” she explained. “And they need to be able to share in a bigger vision to help as many survivors as possible. Together, we’re filling a need that isn’t unique to Tennessee. It’s a need all across the country, anywhere you go.”

While that growth happens, Meg looks to the survivors in her life, both at home and through Survivor Fitness, for inspiration to continue leading with confidence.

“Every time I get an email, or a text, or a phone call from a participant who wants to share their progress is a special moment for me,” said Meg. “For some, that means just getting to play with their children again, or opening up a jar of peanut butter on their own, or being able to be left at home without worry of falling and injury.”

“Each story is a reminder of how something so seemingly simple as moving your body—and having someone walk beside you—can make such a difference.”

Meg Grunke lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband Aaron and their children James and Anna. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and serves as Executive Director of Survivor Fitness Foundation.