The organizers of The Sandy Hook 5K announce the fifth annual race to honor the memories of the lives lost and support those impacted by the tragic events of December 14, 2012, in Sandy Hook. The race will take place on Saturday, April 1, on the campus of Fairfield Hills in Newtown, beginning at 9 am with staggered kids' fun runs and 9:45 for the 5K. Online registration will open on Sunday, January 22, at 4 pm, on the official race website, www.5krunforshf.orgvolunteersh5k@gmail.com.5krunforshf.org/sponsorship.sponsorsh5k@gmail.comTo learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit sandyhook5kreg@gmail.comQuestions regarding registration may be addressed to facebook.com/5krunforshfFor more information, visit 5krunforshf.org or follow on Facebook at

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Rated the fourth best road race in Connecticut by Best of Connecticut of AmericanTowns Media, the Sandy Hook 5K has increased to 2,500 runners, the largest since the race moved back to Newtown. There will be no lottery for participation in the race. Participants will be registered on a first come, first served basis. The run for children ages 2-6 is a quarter mile; for children ages 7 and up, it is a half mile. Total spots available for both kids' runs is 200, also on a first come, first served basis. A Virtual 5K is also available for those wishing to participate in other communities as a virtual runner.

The registration fee for the 5K is $30, $10 for the kid's runs and $26 for the virtual runners. Additional fees may apply. All onsite participants will receive an official race shirt, goodie bag, and a Ben's Bells Kindness Coin race medal.

Once again, there will be a youth T-shirt logo design contest. Children ages 2-10 years of age are encouraged to draw a logo inspired by the race or by what Newtown means to them. The five top logos will receive a $15 gift certificate to the Toy Tree in Newtown. The winning design will be featured on the race shirt given to all youth runners. Entries must be post marked by February 28, and can be mailed to or dropped off at Newtown Center Pediatrics, 10 Queen Street, Newtown CT 06470.

The theme of the race continues to be Love Runs Through because love is running through everything being done to prepare for this event, and through every step taken to reach the organizers' goal of delivering a world-class, one-of-a-kind family event filled with love.

"Our all-volunteer race committee has become a family," said Race Co-Director Katie Blake. "Our participants, volunteers, and sponsors are now part of that extended family. We look forward to seeing familiar faces every year and to welcome the newcomers. All of us on the committee are very thankful for the continued support of the Sandy Hook 5K as we enter our fifth year."

"We are excited to be back in Newtown in 2017, with even more runners in the 5K," said Race Co-Director Julie Brunelle. "Despite the weather each year, the warmth we feel from the participants is something so special to experience. To quote Chris Lear, 'In many ways, a race is analogous to life itself. Once it is over, it cannot be re-created. All that is left are impressions in the heart, and in the mind.' We look forward to the new impressions in our hearts in 2017."

The Newtown Memorial Fund will again 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.

It takes a large team of volunteers and the generosity of many sponsors to put on a successful race of this magnitude. To learn about opportunities to volunteer, e-mail

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