Race Organizer Beth Shluger Reflects on Sandy Hook Benefit 5K

Paul Steinbach Headshot

How did a brand-new 5K run in Connecticut become bigger than any Hartford Marathon held during its 20-year history?

How did a brand-new 5K run in Connecticut become bigger than any Hartford Marathon held during its 20-year history? If they believe in a cause, people - especially runners - come running. In this case, the inaugural Sandy Hook Run for the Families, organized in atypically rapid fashion by Hartford Marathon founder and executive director Beth Shluger, sought to help the first responders, educators and community members affected by the Dec. 14 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Not only did 15,000 runners register and more than twice as many spectators pack the streets of Hartford (the location changed twice to accommodate demand), vendors ranging from mom-and-pop timing companies to shoe-and-apparel giant Reebok supported the March 23 event with some $300,000 in donated goods and services. In the end, more than $450,000 was raised through entry fees and outright donations to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. Paul Steinbach asked Shluger, who puts on 35 running events each year, to reflect on this one step toward recovery for a devastated community.

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