Saturday marked the fifth annual Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation's 5K Run and Walk. The nonprofit organization says it's their biggest fundraiser of the year, as it helps spread awareness for their safety, empowerment, and violence prevention programs. 

Vanessa Marcotte was killed in August 2016 while going for a jog in Princeton. She was 27 years old. Roughly 600 people took part in the 5K, which was both in person and virtual. Participants from all over the world were able to run or walk 3.1 miles. Thirty-four states and three countries were represented, including places like England and Bermuda.

"Vanessa was just the type of person who wanted to change the world, and we always if this had happened to any of her friends she would do anything to prevent it," said race participant and friend of Marcotte Ashley McNiff. "So we really tried to turn the tragedy into something positive, and I think everything we do we try to embed a little bit of Vanessa into it."

Caroline Tocci, another friend of Marcotte, said, "It's so gratifying to have people come together and honor Vanessa but also to help other women and spread awareness about violence against women, as well as just gender equality."

The 5K this year raised more than $80,000, which goes towards programs like self-defense classes and violence prevention. Vanessa would have turned 32 later this month.