Hundreds Turn Out To Nick Kruczek 5k at Guilford Fairgrounds

In Photo, from left: Doug Macloud, Kyle Kruczek, Teagan Kruczek, Sue Kruczek, Matt August, Lori Cattaneo.

GUILFORD, CT - Hundreds turn out on Saturday to participate in the Lifelinx/DAY 5K Nick Kruczek Color at the Guilford Fairgrounds.

Despite the steady rain, the event was packed with participants said Sue Kruczk, the mother of Nick Kruczek, who died at age 20 of a drug overdose.

“It’s so nice to have Nick’s friends still show up and want to honor him,” said Sue Kruczek. “It really means the world to us. We are fortunate.”

Sue Kruczek has become a well known spokesperson in the fight against substance abuse. In recent months she has appeared on national television shows about the opioid crisis, and also visited the White House and received tweets from President Donald Trump about the country’s battle against the drug crisis.

Saturday’s course was an opportunity for people of all ages to join in an explosion of color with friends and family.

The 5K course was from the fairgrounds to Jacobs Beach and back. As you run or walk the course, you will be bombarded with color.

“Everybody had a blast,” said Sue Kruczek. “There were five opportunities to get blasted with color. I’m not sure who had more fun - the participants or the color throwers.”

“Despite the weather, a few hundred people were there,” she added. Sue Kruczek also said she was thrilled and wanted to thank the scores of sponsors who participated.

The event was the kickoff for Guilford’s DAY week, a week that is dedicated to youth using the color purple to visibly commit to living clean, sober lives - and see that they are not alone is that choice.

Lifelinx Corp. is a 501c(3) non-profit addictions recovery support service with offices at 2785 Boston Post Road in Guilford, CT. Lifelinx’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.

The mission of Guilford DAY is to create a healthier community for youth by increasing developmental opportunities and personal strengths and thus reducing youth substance abuse. The youth of DAY conceived the color run and decided to co-sponsor the Lifelinx 5K, in order to help Lifelinx with its fundraising. By participating in this event, you are helping people in recovery on their path to a good life.

Photo by Joe Marganski