Welcome to a community of strength

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

Please stay connected, contribute, and help us keep Erik’s legacy strong. Be sure to check back often and like, follow, and subscribe on social media for the latest announcements related to Big Tree merchandise, events, and celebrations in his legacy.

2025

When the Big Tree Memorial Fund began in Maryland, our hope was simple: help just one family each year who had lost a loved one to cancer. But in true Erik fashion, we’ve never settled for the minimum – we’ve pushed to do more, to reach further, and to make a greater impact. Because of this incredible community, in just 5 years, we have raised and donated over $200,000! This year, thanks to this invitational, your donations, and the grants we’ve secured, we will surpass $250,000! That’s a quarter of a million dollars in Erik’s honor, helping families find hope and strength when they need it most through the Big Tree Cancer initiative.

Women with Cancer Grant via Community Foundation of Frederick County

We welcomed three women into our community: Alexis, Angelika, and Joyce. You can read more about their stories through the links, and we wish them continued success in their journeys.

Little Oak Project

More to share soon!

The 5th Annual Invitational had big 90s energy for its milestone year! 

We welcomed two new families into the Big Tree family tree.

Our first family is the Acheampongs, honoring Melanie, who passed away in June at just 38 years young after a brave fight with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She was a devoted wife to Yaw and mom to her 3 beautiful children: 8-year-old Cameron, 6-year-old Quentin, and 2-year-old Mya.  

Our second family is the Hoffmans, honoring Sean, who passed away in February at age 40 after a long battle with Glioblastoma. He leaves behind his wife Shannon and 3 stepchildren: John (17), Aidan (15), and Olivia (7), along with family and friends who loved him dearly. His family even asked that people plant trees in his honor – a lasting and beautiful reflection of his life that feels especially meaningful for the Big Tree Memorial Fund.

2024

The Big Tree Memorial Fund (BTMF) was proud to provide financial assistance to Adela and her parents, along with support for genetic testing, a free trip to The Justin W. Jennings Foundation’s Justin’s Beach House, and other essential resources. The BTMF team had the wonderful opportunity 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. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) after fracturing her leg in 2021. Later that year, her leg was amputated up to her knee, and in September 2023, the remainder of her leg was removed.

In March of this year, Adela received her prosthetic, and in May, she and her family met with BTMF. On that memorable day, this courageous girl became the latest recipient of a grant from The John L. and Lucille H. Ponton Charitable Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Frederick County to support children with cancer and their families. We at Big Tree Memorial Fund are immensely grateful for the chance to assist Adela through this grant.

BTMF learned about Adela’s inspiring story 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 privileged to present Adela and her family with this check at her school in Frederick, MD—a day they will always remember.

Additionally, we welcomed three new families into the Big Tree cancer support network at the Invitational event.

Jyes Grier and her family faced the tragic loss of her husband Lenard, who passed away on May 15, 2024, after a 3.5-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer. Lenard, age 43, is survived by his wife and their three children: Liam (12), Alex (10), and Luna (6). After his diagnosis in 2020, Lenard founded No One Clothiers—a clothing brand focused on self-expression, heritage, and inclusivity. Even while battling his illness, Lenard worked full-time and collaborated with BTMF, designing and selling merchandise for our cause. Remarkably, on the day he learned his cancer was terminal, Lenard stayed positive and dedicated his energy to helping others. His legacy continues to inspire us, and he remains a cherished member of the Big Tree Family.

The Rinehart family also faced heartbreak with the passing of Kevin Rinehart's wife, Sarah, on February 23, 2024, after nearly a four-year struggle with melanoma. Sarah, age 38, is survived by Kevin and their two children, Cannon (6) and Ripley (3). Initially diagnosed in 2020 with a less severe prognosis, Sarah’s cancer advanced to terminal stage 4 by 2023.

Finally, BTMF welcomed 2.5-year-old Gael Velazquez Pereira, who has been courageously fighting multiple types of brain cancer—Medulloblastoma, ATRT, and Brainstem Glioma—since his diagnosis in August 2023. Thanks to a grant from Frederick County designed to provide financial support for children undergoing cancer treatment, we were able to offer assistance 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 through the Big Tree Memorial Fund 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 from the Big Tree Maryland initiative in honor of wife and mother Hannah, who passed in August 2023 from breast cancer.

In 2022, we were fortunate to raise enough funds through the Big Tree Memorial Fund to support TWO families, which is a significant achievement in only our second year. We believe Erik would be proud as we continue to make the difference we originally set out to do. 

The first family we assisted was the Snesrud Family from Point of Rocks, Maryland, receiving $15,000 in honor of Erik, who tragically passed in February 2020. 

The second family, the Marshall Family from Bowie, Maryland, also received $15,000 in 2022. Eric lost his battle with colon cancer in January 2021.

In 2021, we were fortunate to raise $15,000 to support the Snider Family in honor and memory of Kathryn. This contribution, through the Big Tree Memorial Fund, helped us become a part of the Big Tree family. In this video, you can see the reception where Ashley Knapp presented the funds raised by the Big Tree Memorial Fund in Maryland to Kathryn's family.