The third annual Sandy Hook 5K will bring together 1,500 adults and 250 children on Saturday, March 28, 2015 to honor the memories of the victims and support those affected by the tragic events of December 14, 2012. An additional 100 runners will participate virtually. The race will take place on the campus of Fairfield Hills in Newtown beginning at 8:15 a.m. with a staggered kid’s fun run and 9:00 a.m. for the 5K. The media are invited to attend.
WHAT: Sandy Hook 5K race and kid’s fun run
WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 2015. Kid’s fun at 8:15 a.m. 5K race at 9:00 a.m. Rain or shine.
WHERE: Fairfield Hills Campus, 1st Street, Newtown, Conn.
ON-SITE CONTACT: Isabel Almeida 203-770-9292 or Katie Blake 203-788-7922.
The Sandy Hook 5K is organized by a group of local volunteers who are committed to supporting the Newtown community and passionate about running. The race theme is “Love Runs Through” because love runs through everything being done to prepare for this event, and through every step taken to reach the goal of offering participants a world-class, one-of-a-kind family event filled with love. This year’s race has 1,500 adults, 250 children, 100 virtual runners and more than 80 volunteers.
One of the most incredible stories has arisen this year. 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,” said Race Co-Director Katie Blake. “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 December 14, 2012.
“Those that we carry, carry us,” said Roseanne Rhodes of Milford, PA. “I run with my pack because I am different since December 14th. My life and what I do every day has been unalterably changed since that day and this is my way of acknowledging the unimaginable sense of loss. That if I could, I would take on a piece of that burden to try to lighten it if I could.”
“Thank you to the Newtown Police Department, Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation department for assisting us with planning and safety for this event,” said Race Co-Director Julie Brunelle. “We were able to increase the entry to the 5K to 1,500 participants due to their willingness to allow this event to grow from last year's. A 25% increase in participants would not be possible without their support, without 48 sponsors to help defray the costs, and almost 80 volunteers in addition to the race committee volunteers.”
Once again, the Newtown Memorial Fund has offered to 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 12-14-12 tragedy. A percent of the proceeds will go directly to the chosen nonprofit organizations of the 26 families who lost loved ones.
Special thanks to all the race sponsors who have helped make this event possible. For a full list of sponsors, please visit www.5krunforshf.org/race-sponsors/.
Note: Road closures will affect Mile Hill Road South and Nunnawauk Road on Saturday, March 28, 2015 beginning at 9:00 a.m. For a full race map, please visit www.5krunforshf.org/course-maps/.