What began in grief has grown into something deeply meaningful.
The Colors for Hope 5K is not simply a summer event. It is a day that brings people together around remembrance, joy, and a shared commitment to supporting youth mental health in the White Lake area and beyond.
Set for July 25, 2026, at the Montague Band Shell, the event will include a 5K run and walk, a color toss, music, vendors, and activities for all ages. But for those behind it, the heart of the event goes far beyond what happens on race day.
A mission rooted in Ava’s legacy
At its core is the Ava VanderStelt Scholarship, created in memory of Ava and dedicated to preventing youth suicide through education, connection, and support.
For Bridget Knapp and Reed Knapp, that purpose has never wavered.
“Our mission is the same,” Bridget said. “Our core is the same.”
That mission is carried out through direct support of Hope Squads, peer led programs in schools that help students recognize signs of mental health struggles, support one another, and connect classmates with help when they need it most.
The scholarship also funds the Rose Award Scholarship, given each year to students from Montague and Whitehall High Schools who reflect Ava’s spirit of kindness, compassion, and care for others. The award is intentionally flexible, allowing students to use the support in whatever way best helps them move forward, whether that is college, trade school, or simply meeting immediate needs.
Rather than focusing on a single path, the scholarship is designed to meet students where they are and support what comes next in their lives.
More than a race day experience
While the mission is serious, the event itself is designed to be welcoming and full of life.
“We have a DJ coming and a face painter,” Bridget said. “We have a lot of fun things planned, and I think having more space is going to be really good for us.”
Participants can run, walk, or simply come and be part of the day.
“There’s always something going on,” Reed said. “You can be at the start, the finish, throwing color, or just hanging out listening to music.”
“It’s just such an incredible feeling,” Bridget said. “You just feel like everyone is always so happy. You’re all there for one reason.”
The impact of Hope Squads in schools
Those seeds are also being planted directly in schools through Hope Squads, where students are trained to support one another and recognize when someone may be struggling.
For Reed, that impact is personal and rooted in those programs.
“Just knowing it was there made me feel a lot better,” she said. “You have that option. That’s comforting.”
But she also emphasized that students need to take the next step and actually use it.
“You can feel like you’re going to be a burden,” Reed said, “but you’re going to feel better talking to someone. And the other person is going to feel better knowing what’s going on.”
That willingness to speak up, even when it is difficult, is exactly what Hope Squads are designed to support. Whether it is talking to a peer, reaching out for help, or simply not staying silent, those small steps can make a life changing difference.
“Throwing seeds” of kindness
Described by her family as fearless, loyal, and fiercely compassionate, Ava had a natural way of connecting with others, especially those who needed support.
“She was this outgoing, always smiling person,” Reed said. “She never had anything bad to say about anybody. She was definitely a seed thrower.”
That idea of “throwing seeds” has become a guiding principle for the scholarship and the event itself. It represents the small, everyday acts of kindness that can make a real difference in someone’s life.
“Think of ways to throw seeds,” Bridget said. “That’s the biggest thing.”
From the kitchen to the classroom
Bridget has seen that impact not only through the programs, but through her own outreach.
Through her “Grief Stricken Kitchen” social media pages, she shares cooking videos, stories, and reflections tied to her grief and healing. What started as a personal outlet has become another way to connect with others and keep Ava’s spirit present in everyday life.
She also brings that same message directly into schools, baking and delivering cookies while speaking with students about Ava, mental health, and the importance of kindness. At one visit, she baked hundreds of cookies while sharing her story and encouraging students to look out for one another.
“It’s easy to give somebody a dirty look instead of a nice look,” she said. “So I just talk about throwing seeds of kindness.”
Those moments, whether through a conversation, a video, or even a cookie, are all part of the same mission. Small actions that ripple outward.
A community effort that continues to grow
The Colors for Hope 5K brings those efforts together in one place. It creates space for connection, for conversation, and for a community to show up for one another.
It also continues to bring Ava’s family together in a meaningful way.
“It definitely brings all of us closer,” Reed said. “We’re doing something we love and get to talk about her.”
For Bridget, that connection is part of honoring Ava’s life.
“If you have somebody in your life that you truly love and they pass, do you want them forgotten?” she said. “Let’s celebrate what she started.”
That is what the Colors for Hope 5K has become.
A celebration of a life.
A commitment to supporting others.
A growing effort to change how communities talk about and respond to mental health.
Whether someone runs, walks, volunteers, sponsors, or simply shares the message, every action becomes part of something larger.
“Every little bit matters,” Bridget said.
And with each step, each conversation, and each act of kindness, the impact continues to grow.
If you go
The Colors for Hope 5K will take place July 25, 2026, at the Montague Band Shell. The event includes a 5K run and walk, color toss, music, vendors, and family friendly activities. Proceeds support the Ava VanderStelt Scholarship and local Hope Squad programs.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Learn more and get involved:
Colors for Hope 5K Facebook event page
Bridget Ann Knapp Facebook page
Ava VanderStelt Scholarship Facebook page
Ava VanderStelt Scholarship website
Grief Stricken Kitchen Instagram
Ava VanderStelt Scholarship Instagram
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