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On June 23, 2020 we lost Erik "Big Tree" Knapp suddenly to brain cancer. In his honor, we established the BTMF to raise funds for families impacted by cancer in Maryland. In 2023, BTMF expanded with the Little Oak Project which gives money and access to resources to families with a child battling cancer. 

Please stay connected, contribute, and keep Erik’s memory alive. Please also check back often and be sure to like, follow and subscribe on social media for the latest announcements of Big Tree merchandise, events, and celebrations of his life and legacy. 

2024

BTMF was able to gift Adela and her parents with financial assistance, help with genetic testing, a free trip to The Justin W. Jennings Foundation ‘s Justin’s Beach House, and additional resources. The BTMF group was able to surprise the family in early May at her school in Frederick, Maryland.

Who’s Adela? Adela is an incredibly brave, resilient, and strong 1st grader. Adela was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) after she fractured her leg in 2021. Later that year, her leg up to her knee was amputated and in September 2023, the rest of her leg was taken.

In March of this year, Adela got her prosthetic and in May, she and her family met BTMF. On that day, this courageous girl became the latest recipient of a grant from The John L. and Lucille H. Ponton Charitable Fund, which was created by the Community Foundation of Frederick County to support children with cancer and their families. Big Tree Memorial Fund was awarded the grant earlier this year and we’re so appreciative of the opportunity to help Adela.

BTMF came across the story of Adela through the kindness of Amanda Murphy, Teacher Specialist Data Coach at Butterfly Ridge Elementary School and a close friend of Erik’s. The BTMF group was able to surprise and present Adela and her family with this check at her school in Frederick, MD. It’s now a day that will never be forgotten.

We also welcomed three new families into the BTMF family at the Invitational.

Jyes Grier and her family tragically lost her husband, Lenard, on May 15, 2024 after a 3.5-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer. Lenard, 43, is survived by his wife and their three children: Liam (12), Alex (10), and Luna (6). After his 2020 diagnosis, Lenard founded No One Clothiers, a clothing brand rooted in self-expression, heritage, and inclusivity. Despite his illness, Lenard continued working full-time and collaborated with BTMF, even designing and selling merchandise for us. Remarkably, on the day he learned his cancer was terminal, Lenard stayed positive, focusing on helping others. His impact lives on, and he remains an integral part of the Big Tree Family.

The Rinehart family experienced the heartbreaking loss of Kevin Rhinehart's wife, Sarah, who passed away on February 23, 2024 after a nearly 4-year battle with melanoma. Sarah was 38 years old and is survived by Kevin and their two children, Cannon (6) and Ripley (3). Initially diagnosed in 2020 with a less concerning prognosis, Sarah’s cancer metastasized by 2023, leading to a terminal stage 4 diagnosis. 

BTMF welcomed 2.5-year-old Gael Velazquez Pereira, who is battling multiple types of brain cancer—Medulloblastoma, ATRT, and Brainstem Glioma—since his diagnosis in August 2023. Thanks to a grant from Frederick County, aimed at providing financial support for children undergoing cancer treatment, we were able to gift funds to Gael's family. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and emergency surgeries at such a young age, Gael remains cheerful and active.

2023

We're so proud to be able to, once again, support two families in 2023.

The first family to receive $15,000 was the Knox Family from Frederick, Maryland. The funds were given to wife Jennifer and daughter Izzy in honor of Scott who passed in July 2023 from cancer.

The second family to receive $15,000 this year was the Gevaudan Family from Federalsburg, Maryland. Elliott and daughter, Addison, received the funds in honor of wife and mother Hannah who passed in August 2023 from breast cancer.

2022

We were fortunate to raise enough money to support TWO families. This is huge for us to have accomplished in only our second year and we know Erik would be proud as we’re making the difference we originally set out to do.

The first family we gave $15,000 to was the Snesrud Family from Point of Rocks, Maryland. The funds are given in honor of Erik who passed in February 2020.

The second family that received $15,000 in 2022 was Marshall Family from Bowie, Maryland. Eric passed in January 2021 from colon cancer.

2021

We were fortunate to have raised $15,000 to give to the Snider Family in honor and memory of Kathryn. With the funds comes becoming a part of the Big Tree family. This video is of the reception where Ashley Knapp gave the funds raised by the Big Tree Memorial Fund over 2021 to Kathryn's family.