Her Son Died Suddenly At 15 In Jersey City. Her Event Will Raise Awareness

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Tracy Reinholt's son, Hunter, passed away five years ago this month. She found him lifeless in a chair on Easter morning, dead of a suspected drug overdose.

She had always feared he'd be curious about drugs, because his father had struggled with addiction, she said in a 2019 news story.

Reinholt believed Hunter, a student at Marist High School, was experimenting with prescription drugs. After he died, she wanted to raise awareness about how easily kids can succumb. She also wanted to find a way to provide peer support to kids struggling with mental health issues.

This weekend, she will run the 3rd Annual HunterFest 5K in Liberty State Park to Benefit Teen Mental Health.

All are welcome at theUSATF certified 5K run/walk, she said.

The run/walk kicks off Sunday, April 28, at 10 a.m.

The money will go to HuntersWorld, a Jersey City-based peer mentoring program that she created in 2020 to honor Hunter.

According to a release, "Participants will enjoy a flat, fast course followed by a post-race festival featuring local cuisine and carnival games. Over 200 participants are expected on race day. All registered runners receive a free T-shirt, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three males and females overall."

Reinholt noted, “The CDC has reported that rates of sadness among adolescents are at their highest in decades. Our mission at HuntersWorld is all about helping teens cope with the pressures and stresses of our post-pandemic world. An event like HunterFest will help them build connections with each other, their families and their community."

'The Love We Had'

Of Hunter, Reinholt said, "I wanted to do something to honor the love we all had for him. The idea for HuntersWorld was born out of heartfelt conversations with his closest friends. We all missed the efforts he made to support you in the way you needed it most."

Among the over 200 expected participants in the race is Gabriela Lamega, founding HuntersWorld Mentor. "I’m looking forward to reconnecting with HuntersWorld members whom I now consider a second family. I’m also truly excited to attend an event that celebrates my friend Hunter’s angelversary and continues to prioritize mental health for teens in our diverse community.”

Serving high school students throughout Jersey City, HuntersWorld, a 501(c)(3), gives teenagers a safe place free of judgment to talk about their emotions with the support of their peers. Read more at HuntersWorld.org.

Register for the HunterFest 5K: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/...