Thousands came to Stratford to run in the 9th annual Vicki Soto 5K honoring a Newtown first-grade teacher who lost her life in the Sandy Hook shooting nearly nine years ago. 

The event, which kicked off from Main Street, saw 2,900 people participating after last year's race was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All money raised from the event is put towards scholarships for educators, students, and literacy.

Soto was only 27-years-old and teaching at Sandy Hook when she died while saving her first-grade students from the shooter who had entered the school.

"Vicki's passion was teaching and literacy, and I know she's smiling down on all of us because we're carrying on that legacy and her passion for education by supporting the scholarship," said James Wiltsie, Vicki's cousin.

He says they were only expecting 1,000 people to show up and was surprised when three times that number planned to participate. 

Organizers say donations can still be made online to the memorial.