'Love Runs Through': Runners Mobilize for Sandy Hook 5K to Support Newtown

The third annual Sandy Hook 5K will bring together 1,500 adults and 250 children to honor the memories of the victims and support those affected by the tragic events of Dec. 14, 2012.

The race will take place on March 28 with the kids fun run beginning at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K beginning at 9 a.m., come rain or shine.

An additional 100 runners will participate virtually. The race will take place on the campus of Fairfield Hills in Newtown.

The Sandy Hook 5K is organized by a group of local volunteers who are committed to supporting the Newtown community and are passionate about running. The race theme is “Love Runs Through”.

A group of volunteer firefighters from across Connecticut will be participating in the Sandy Hook 5K wearing full fire fighter gear and air packs to show support to the first responders.

“We were contacted by Jeff Kozo from the Washington Depot, Conn. Volunteer Fire Department with his heroic desire to show solidarity for his fellow first responders,”Race Co-Director Katie Blake said in a news release. “We thought it was a wonderful idea and gave him the ‘thumbs up.’ Jeff was able to get more than 25 fire fighters from surrounding towns to join him in this event, including some from Sandy Hook. We are honored to have them participate and wish them well as they cross the finish line.”

Another valiant effort will be put forth by Roseanne Rhodes who, for the last two years has run with a backpack filled with one-pound weights for each person lost on Dec. 14, 2012.

Race Co-Director Julie Brunelle thanked the Newtown Police Department, Department of Public Works and the Parks and Recreation Department for assisting with planning the race. She also thanked the volunteers and sponsors.

The Newtown Memorial Fund will collect and process all donations. Proceeds from the Sandy Hook 5K will be donated to the Collaborative Recovery Fund administered by the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation which pays the out of pocket mental health expenses for those eligible who have been most impacted by the Dec. 14. 2012 tragedy. A percent of the proceeds will go directly to the chosen nonprofit organizations of the 26 families who lost loved ones.

Image via Shutterstock

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