Editor’s note: This story contains discussions of suicide and mental health crises.
Collin Maher, who started the Cocoa Classic Charity 5K as a Boy Scout project – a fundraiser to supply shoes to students at Lake Forest Elementary School – has died at the age of 19.
In an email sent to Rough Draft, his father, Chris, said Collin has “passed away from suicide.”
At the time of his death, Collin, according to his obituary, had just completed his freshman year at Washington University on a track and field scholarship.
“Collin grew up to become someone his friends described as authentic, energetic, and unapologetically himself. He was funny – quietly, precisely funny, the kind of humor that caught you off guard and made you laugh before you realized what had happened,” the obituary said. “He was relentlessly upbeat. He loved his friends with his whole heart and loved nothing more than being surrounded by them. He wanted to be loved in return, and he was – more than he may ever have fully known.”
Cocoa Classic history
Maher, an avid runner who was nationally ranked, founded the Cocoa Classic 5K during his sophomore year at MVS after seeing children at a local food bank wearing worn-out shoes. It was thus named because all runners received a cup of cocoa after finishing the event.
In its third year, the event raised enough money to provide shoes to more than 1,600 children. The event supports Shoes That Fit, a nonprofit dedicated to providing new shoes for children in need.
Maher, in creating the event, envisioned it as a way to help children feel confident and valued.
“Every year, we’ve been able to provide more kids with new shoes, and knowing that this effort will continue – even as I transition to college – makes it even more meaningful,” Maher told Rough Draft Atlanta in a 2025 interview.
He was named as one of Rough Draft’s 20 Under 20 2024 honorees for his efforts, and also received the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award – one of Scouting America’s highest honors – and the Spirit of Sandy Springs Award from the Sandy Springs Society.
Remembering Collin
Mount Vernon’s Head of School Kristy Lundstrom called Maher “an extraordinary young man whose impact on our Mount Vernon community will be felt for years to come.”
“In the classroom, he brought curiosity, kindness, and a genuine care for those around him. On the track, he demonstrated determination, leadership, and a quiet excellence that inspired both his teammates and coaches,” Lundstrom said. “More than his accomplishments, Collin will be remembered for the way he made people feel, seen, encouraged, and valued.”
His obituary noted that although Collin exuded joy and confidence in his public demeanor, “mental health struggles are real, and they can be incredibly difficult to see, understand, and treat; even in the people who seem happiest.”
“Our family has now experienced that unimaginable loss firsthand,” it continued. “We take comfort in believing Collin is now at peace with the Lord, watching over all of us.”
Chris shared with Rough Draft a letter of recommendation written by one of Collin’s teachers that said the then-senior “is the kind of student who reminds me why I love teaching.”
Teacher Krista Fancher, the director of the Innovation Diploma program, said her first impression of Collin was a “kind, thoughtful, but somewhat immature ninth grader when he started high school.”
“However, he quickly began to demonstrate the qualities that make a great Innovation Diploma (iD) student: a willingness to work hard, a readiness to learn, an ability to ask great questions, and an infectious enthusiasm,” she wrote in the recommendation letter. “As a 30+ year educator, one of my most memorable moments was watching Collin lead his design brief team through the ‘Future of Air Travel’ event. This was a turning point for Collin, as his team’s growing confidence in him mirrored the confidence he was gaining in himself.”
The Innovation Diploma (iD) program, according to Fancher, is a highly selective four-year student-led consultancy that challenges students to solve complex problems for external Fortune 500, government, and nonprofit partners.
Funeral services will be on May 21, with visitation from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at HM Patterson & Son Funeral Home, 173 Allen Rd NE in Sandy Springs. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at Peachtree Church, 3434 Roswell Road NW in Atlanta.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Cocoa Classic through Collin’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Collins Classic Charities, LLC, founded in 2022.
In future years, the Cocoa Classic will raise money for teen mental health, his father said in the email to Rough Draft. “Our mission is to address teen mental health to prevent the unimaginable for other parents.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is available 24 hours a day. You can also visit 988lifeline.org for more resources.
