Vicki Soto 5K marks 12 years of honoring Sandy Hook teacher remembered as a hero

The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport hosted the 12th annual Vicki Soto 5K, which honors a teacher who was killed protecting her students during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown.

Greg Thompson

•

Nov 2, 2024, 10:19 PM

•

Updated 54 days ago

The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport hosted the 12th annual Vicki Soto 5K, which honors a teacher who was killed protecting her students during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown.

Organizers say of the 3,200 runners who signed up for Saturday's race, over 1,000 are teachers.

Vicki’s brother Carlos seeing the joy on people’s faces during the race “makes it a little easier.”

"It's really not something we can process,” he said. “It's weird because it feels like it just happened yesterday."

Money raised from the day goes toward the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund, which will give out its 40th scholarship to a student who also want to become teacher.

"She would be just so incredibly proud," Carlos said.

Runners from around the state said the cause is what got them to lace up for the race.

"It's amazing to see how many people actually support and come out here, it keeps you going," said Sindy Trujillo, of Bridgeport.

"There's just something about it," said Bella Melchiori from Milford. "It's powerful, it's emotional, and it really makes a statement."

As for Carlos, he says he took a moment at the start of the race and "just sat there and I saw everyone, and it definitely made me cry, because it's just beautiful."

The Soto family says they are hoping to raise enough money to cover four scholarships this year.