Hundreds Turn Out For Lifelinx Day 5K Nick Kruczek Color Run/Walk

GUILFORD, CT - Hundreds of runners, walkers and spectators flocked to the Guilford Fairgrounds Saturday morning to either participate or watch the annual Lifelinx Day 5K Nick Kruczek Color Run/Walk for Recovery.

This year's event was dedicated to Nick's Hand High School hockey teammate Joe Deane, who like Nick, died from a drug overdose. Joe was 23.

Also in attendance were Mike and Kristin Song, close friends of the Kruczeks, who are living through their own tragedy of losing their son, Ethan, in a gun accident in January of 2018.

The foundation the Songs founded to fund what they deemed worthy causes presented Lifelinx with a $2,500 donation.

Lifelinx Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit addictions recovery support service. The organization’s mission is to reduce substance abuse through relapse prevention by providing a variety of peer-driven recovery support services to people in and seeking recovery from substance use disorders.

Lifelinx is located in Guilford and serve the Connecticut Shoreline and Greater New Haven communities.

To Sue Kruczek who lost her own son, Nick at age 20 to a drug overdose, dedicating the event this year to Joe Deane’s memory was a no brainer.

"Joe and Nick were linemates and friends," said Sue Kruczek. "Nick loved having Joe as his wingman on and off the ice. It breaks my heart that his favorite wingman is now his wingman in heaven."

The event was the kickoff for Guilford's D.A.Y. Week, conceived and let by D.A.Y. youth, in which the color purple is used to symbolize youth sobriety. The youth use purple to visibly commit to living clean, and see that they are not alone, but that they are in the majority.

Adults use purple to demonstrate their support for Guilford's youth and their values. Everyone commits to helping each other, especially those who need encouragement and support.