5K in Memory of the Gaudreau Brothers Raises Funds for Playground
In a moving event, the first 5K in memory of John and Matthew Gaudreau has raised over $500,000, funds that will allow the construction of an accessible playground at the special education school where their mother works. The “Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day” took place in May at Washington Lake Park in South New Jersey. This park was a special place for John and Matthew, who visited it frequently during their childhood. The event featured the participation of more than 1,100 people in the walk and 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 project was an initiative that John and Matthew had begun to support in honor of their grandmother Marie, who worked at the school for 44 years and passed away in 2023. The park’s inauguration is scheduled for late August or early September, with October 4th as a tentative date for the start of community construction. Despite the threat of a storm the night before, the 5K went off without a hitch.The next edition of the “Gaudreau Family 5K Walk” is tentatively scheduled for May 16, 2026. The Gaudreau brothers, John who played 10 full seasons in the NHL with Calgary and Columbus, 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 who have joined the cause inspired by the brothers.Due to the rain, we thought that many people wouldn’t come, but the response was incredible. Many people asked us if we will do it again next year. It was a show of love and affection, especially for the boys in our family.
Jane Gaudreau
The Gaudreaus and the staff of Archbishop Damiano School were dedicated to raising funds for a modern playground that offers wheelchair accessibility, ramps, and transfer platforms for students. The 5K event included an online memorabilia auction, the proceeds of which went to the playground project and its initial goal of $600,000. The playground area has already been marked out and the equipment has been ordered, but there is still work to be done. The Gaudreaus and the school need building materials to complete the project.We heard a lot from everyone about how much they appreciated everything [the brothers] did for the community, and that’s why they helped us. We heard a lot of nice stories, a lot of people were very generous, they just wanted to be there for our family and do what they could to keep the legacy of John and Matty alive, which is what we wanted from the playground and to move forward from here.
Jane Gaudreau
Archbishop Damiano School was founded in 1968 for children with Down syndrome and currently serves 135 students with special needs between the ages of 3 and 21. Jane Gaudreau’s brother attended the school, and her mother worked there. Jane was hired in 1984 and is still a finance associate. Kristen, the eldest daughter, has taught at the school for almost two decades. Katie, the youngest daughter, who got married in July, used to help the children when she could, and the two Gaudreau siblings volunteered at the school when they weren’t playing hockey.We are just planning our community building, in which we will need help.
Jane Gaudreau
