Love Runs Through: Sandy Hook 5K on April 1

Fifth Annual Sandy Hook 5K to be held in Newtown on April 1, 2017

The fifth annual Sandy Hook 5K will be stepping off on Saturday, April 1, 2017 on the campus of Fairfield Hills in Newtown, Conn. beginning at 9:00 a.m. with staggered kids’ fun runs and 9:45 a.m. for the 5K.

Rated the 4^th best road race in Connecticut by Best of Connecticut of AmericanTowns Media, the Sandy Hook 5K and Kid’s Fun Run will have more than 2,100 runners, the largest since the race moved back to Newtown. Race Committee members have been meeting for months to organize and plan a fun and heartwarming event for the community.

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 1,900 5K participants, 200 children, 50 virtual runners and more than 100 volunteers.

“We look forward to seeing familiar faces every year and to welcome the newcomers,” said Race Co-Director Katie Blake. “All of us on the committee are very thankful for the continued support of the Sandy Hook 5K as we enter our 5th year.”

“While we wish this event did not have a reason to exist, the continued support of so many provides an avenue to continue our fundraising and for that we are thankful,” said Race Co-Director Julie Brunelle. 

Once again, the Newtown Memorial Fund will serve as the fiduciary 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 who have been most impacted by the 12-14-12 tragedy. Additionally, a percent of the proceeds will go directly to the chosen nonprofit organizations of those that 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/.

• Opening remarks will be made by Newtown Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Erardi, Jr. and St. Rose of Lima Pastor Monsignor Robert Weiss.
• Kids’ runs – 9:00 a.m., 5K – 9:45 a.m. with awards/prizes – 11:00 a.m. rain or shine.
• The event will take place at Fairfield Hills Campus, Keating Farms Avenue, Newtown, Conn.

Questions? Call Isabel Almeida 203-770-9292

Note: Road closures will affect Mile Hill Road South and Nunnawauk Road on Saturday, April 1, 2017 beginning at 9:00 a.m. For a full race map, please visit www.5krunforshf.org/course-maps/.