Over 600 girls participate in 5K to honor children killed in Somers fire – NBC Connecticut

It’s been nearly five months since a devastating fire ripped through a Somers home and left four young children dead.

One of those children was nine-year-old Genevieve Koropatkin, who loved running.

On Saturday morning, Girls on the Run of Greater Connecticut hosted a 5K run in memory of her and her three brothers: Archer, 5; Benjamin, 7; and Luke, 11.

“She really thought the program was so important,” said Johanna Rincon, GOTR executive director. “We are so glad that her friends and family are here to support everyone who is here and we miss her so much.”

According to Rincon, more than 600 girls from across the state participated in the event, including schools and teams from Darien, New Haven, Seymour and Windsor.

“I received a number of emails because every girl has changed. Every girl went through something and learned something from it,” said Jessica Soule of Enfield.

Soule is the head coach of the Girls on the Run team at Prudence Crandall Elementary School in Enfield. She and assistant coach Stepanie Tullock meet with students twice a week to train them.

“I just love the fact that we boosted her confidence. Then having this event and seeing them get through it. It’s just great,” Tullock said.

Some of the students said this was their first ever 5K run.

“I’m really looking forward to it. We trained,” said Sophia Gemme from Enfield.

NBC Connecticut’s Caitlin Burchill moderated this inspiring event. Runners we spoke to say the organization has inspired them them in many ways.

“It really teaches about positivity and our self-care,” said Cecila Tuttle of Enfield.

“It teaches you to just keep going,” Gemme said. “Imagine having an envelope and every time you reach that envelope you push it further because you have to try. There are no limits in life and you just have to do your best and live life the way it’s meant to be lived.”