Resounding Success: 5K in Memory of the Gaudreau Raises Funds for Inclusive Park
The first 5K race in honor of John and Matthew Gaudreau has been a resounding success, exceeding expectations and raising over $500,000. These funds will enable the construction of an accessible playground at the special education school where the hockey players’ mother works. The event, known as the Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day, took place in May at Washington Lake Park in South New Jersey. This location was frequented by John and Matthew during their childhood and is near the Hollydell Ice Arena, where they began their hockey careers. The 5K race had the participation of more than 1,100 people in the walk, in addition to another 1,100 virtual participants from the United States, Canada and various parts of the world. The funds raised, along with contributions in memory of John and Matt, have made it possible to reach the financial goal for the construction of the accessible playground at Archbishop Damiano School. This initiative was launched in honor of their grandmother Marie, who dedicated 44 years of service to the school and passed away in 2023. The ceremony to lay the first stone is scheduled for the end of August or the beginning of September, with community construction planned for October 4th.The next Gaudreau Family 5K Walk is tentatively scheduled for May 16, 2026. The Gaudreau brothers, John, who played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary and Columbus teams, passed away last August on the eve of his sister’s wedding, after being hit by a drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey. The playground initiative was launched by director Michele McCloskey in October 2020. Fundraising over the last five years has been a constant process, with the support of friends from the hockey world and others inspired by the brothers.Due to the rain, we thought that many people would not show up. But it was a great turnout. Many people asked us if we will do it again next year. It was a great show of love and affection, especially for the children in our family.
Jane Gaudreau
The Gaudreaus and Archbishop Damiano staff dedicated themselves to fundraising for a modern playground that would allow accessibility for all students, including ramps and transfer platforms. The 5K event included an online memorabilia auction that extended beyond hockey, with all proceeds donated to the playground and its original goal of $600,000. The new area for the playground has been demarcated and the equipment has been ordered, but there is still work to be done. The Gaudreaus and the school need everything from 175 tons of crushed concrete to beach sand and other construction materials to complete the project. The Archbishop Damiano School was founded in 1968 for children with Down syndrome and currently offers services to 135 students with special needs between 3 and 21 years old. Jane Gaudreau’s brother attended the school, and her mother worked there. Jane was hired in 1984 and is still a financial associate. Kristen, the eldest daughter, has taught at the school for almost two decades.We heard a lot about how much everyone appreciated everything [the brothers] did for the community, and so they rallied and helped us. We heard a lot of nice stories, a lot of people were very generous, just wanting to be there for our family and what they could do to keep the legacy of John and Matty alive, which is what we wanted from the park and to move forward from here.
Gaudreau
