Sophie's Squad

10/08/2026

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share the passing of one of our dear Sophie’s Squad ambassadors, Riley Vander Esch of Saint Mary’s. 🕊️💜🩵

Riley was so much more than an ambassador. She was a friend, a teammate, a daughter, and someone who meant so much to so many. We are incredibly grateful to have known Riley and to have had her as part of the Sophie’s Squad family.

Our hearts are with Riley’s family, friends, teammates, and the entire community during this incredibly difficult time.

We hope Riley has found peace and is free from pain. Her life, her impact, and the love she shared with those around her will not be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Riley. You will always be part of our team.

10/08/2026

A big THANK YOU to the St. Cloud Kiwanis Club for their generous donation to Sophie’s Squad! 💜🩵

We were honored to join their weekly meeting on October 5 to share more about Sophie’s Squad, our mission, and the work we’re doing to support mental health awareness for athletes.

We’re incredibly grateful for organizations like the Kiwanis Club that are committed to strengthening their communities and supporting young people. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us continue these important conversations!

10/06/2026

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL MOVIE SHOWING!! 💜🩵

Sophie’s Squad is proud to partner with the Minnesota Wild for a special premiere of Shattered Ice — a powerful coming-of-age hockey film centered on friendship, loss, mental health, and moving forward after losing a friend to su***de.

📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 4:00 PM
📍 Grand Casino Arena | Saint Paul, MN
💜 $5 from every ticket will be donated to Sophie’s Squad!

Join us for an evening that brings together hockey, community, and important conversations around mental health. The event includes the Shattered Ice movie screening followed by a panel discussion.

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS:
https://seatgeek.com/minnesota-wild-tickets/10-16-2026-saint-paul-minnesota-grand-casino-arena/nhl/18621457?preview_token=VKdpW38OKQ

Or tap the link in our story!

Let’s continue breaking the stigma around mental health — on and off the ice. 💜🩵

Attendees must be 16+ unless accompanied by an adult.

09/30/2026

A BIG thank you to Post University and Felician University for coming together to host a Mental Health Awareness Game supporting Sophie’s Squad! ⚽️💜🩵

Mental health matters on and off the field, and we’re so grateful to both teams for using their platform to raise awareness, start important conversations, and remind athletes that they are never alone.

Thank you for being part of our mission and helping us continue to break the stigma around mental health in athletics!

09/30/2026

Join and Fundraise for Sophie's Squad at Grandma's Marathon! 💜🩵

We are excited to announce that Sophie's Squad is participating in Grandma's Marathon weekend again! June 19th, 2027 Duluth, Minnesota!

We are looking for 31 runners who want to help us spread awareness about mental health among student-athletes while raising funds to support Sophie's Squad.

We have entries available for:
• William A. Irvin 5K
• Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
• Grandma's Marathon

Runner Commitment:
- Each runner will be asked to raise a minimum of $500 for Sophie's Squad. We will set up individual fundraising pages to make it easy for runners to share their stories and collect donations.
- Runners will also receive a Sophie's Squad running kit so you can proudly represent our team on race weekend!

Want to Join the Team? Email us, DM, or just respond to this post!

Feel free to share this opportunity with friends, family members, and other runners who may want to join us!

09/29/2026

Episode 9 is LIVE! 🎙️💜🩵

We’re kicking off a new series, “Conversations with Kiddos,” with Brit’s daughter, Liv!

Liv joins us for an open and honest conversation about mental health, emotions, and why it’s so important to talk about how we’re really feeling.

These conversations can start at any age. Talk with your kids, friends, and teammates. Ask questions. Listen. Check in. The more we talk about mental health, the more we make it a normal part of everyday life.

🎧 Listen now wherever you watch or listen to podcasts!
🔗 https://youtu.be/2snaF-l5EMs?is=6HyARVgOoPHWL82l

09/29/2026

What an incredible day celebrating 5 years of Sophie’s Squad! 💜🩵

Being part of a team is about so much more than the sport—it’s about showing up for each other, checking in, and making sure no teammate feels like they have to struggle alone.

We’re so grateful for every athlete, supporter, volunteer, and community member who continues to stand together for mental health. Because when we support one another, we’re stronger as a team. 🫶

Here’s to five years of reminding athletes everywhere that it’s OK to not be OK!

09/29/2026

https://sophiessquad.org/sophies-squad-5k-and-golf-tournament-continues-to-grow-community-for-mental-health-awareness/

Sophie's Squad 5K and golf tournament brought more than 700 participants together and raised over $115,000 for mental health awareness.

09/29/2026

Mental Health Awareness Game! 💜🩵⚽

Join us Saturday, October 3 as Duluth East takes on Brainerd for a Mental Health Awareness Game supporting Sophie’s Squad!

JV kicks off at 12:00 PM, followed by Varsity at 2:00 PM at Duluth East. Come cheer on these athletes while helping us continue the conversation around mental health and reminding athletes that they are never alone.