Organizers of The Sandy Hook 5K announce the fourth annual race to honor the memories of the victims and support those affected by 12/14 will take place on Saturday, April 2, on the campus of Fairfield Hills

This year’s race will begin at 9 am with staggered kid fun runs, and 9:30 am for the 5K.

This year’s 5K race will accommodate up to 1,800 runners/walkers. There will be no lottery for participation in the race this year. Participants will be registered on a first come, first served basis.

The run for children ages 2-6 is a quarter mile; for those ages 7 and up, it is a half mile. Total spots available for both kid runs is 200, also on a first come, first served basis.

The registration fee for the 5K and the virtual runners is $26, $6 for the kid runs. Additional fees may apply.

Like last year, there is also the option of joining the event as a Virtual Runner.

Online registration will open on Sunday, January 24, at 4 pm, on the official race website, 5krunforshf.org.

“The race theme remains ‘Love Runs Through,’” said Race Co-Director Katie Blake. “Love runs through everything being done to prepare for this event, and through every step we take to reach our goals. Our goal here is to bring participants a world-class, one-of-a-kind family event filled with love. Whether you are running with us in Newtown, volunteering, fundraising, or running with us virtually, love runs through.”

Race Co-Director Julie Brunelle said the 2016 race will honor a special group of people

“This year we are humbled to honor teachers who undoubtedly have had and will continue to have a tremendous impact our lives,” she said. “To quote Henry Adams: ‘A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops.’”

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 eligible who have been most impacted by 12/14.

Additionally, a percent of the proceeds will go directly to the chosen nonprofit organizations of the 26 families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

To learn about opportunities to volunteer at the 5K, email volunteersh5k@gmail.com. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, email sponsorsh5k@gmail.com. Questions regarding registration may be addressed to sandyhook5kreg@gmail.com.

For more information, visit 5krunforshf.org.

T-Shirt Design Contest

Sandy Hook 5K organizers have also announced that they will again present a Youth T-Shirt Logo Design Contest. Five winning logos will be featured on the T-shirts given to all youth runners in April, and the creators of the five logos will also receive a $15 gift certificate to The Toy Tree.

Children ages 5-12 are asked to create a logo inspired by the Sandy Hook 5K or what Newtown means to them.

Contest forms are available at The Newtown Bee office, 5 Church Hill Road, and online here. Completed forms must be postmarked or delivered by Wednesday, February 17, to Newtown Center Pediatrics, 10 Queen Street, Newtown CT 06470.