COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Jane Gaudreau, the mother of the late John and Matthew Gaudreau, is channeling her grief into a meaningful project. A family friend suggested launching the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K, a fundraising event that promotes family fun.
The event aims to fulfill her late son John’s goal of building an accessible playground for children with disabilities at the Archbishop Damiano School, where both John and Matthew volunteered, and the family shares a 53-year connection with.
Both boys, John and Matty, loved children so much. I know this will mean so much to them and they will be so honored that we’ve done something like this for them,” said Jane Gaudreau.
John Gaudreau, known to the world as NHL star “Johnny Hockey,” was also a devoted family man. He and his brother Matthew grew up in South Jersey, spending their time volunteering at the school and befriending older students.
“I thought, well, John was already donating to the playground. Why don’t we just continue with that in small amounts? I didn’t think it would take over and be such a wonderful place for people to help out,” Jane Gaudreau said.
The Gaudreau family has opened their mission to the public, with more than 2,000 people signing up to participate in the 5K either virtually or in person. Among them is Blue Jackets forward Zach Aston-Reese, who grew up playing hockey against the Gaudreau brothers in Jersey.
“Anything you can do to be a part of the community and help people heal, it starts with the family and stems so far. I think even if you didn’t know them, it still hurts. Being together and celebrating him and Matty’s life is important,” said Aston-Reese.
Aston-Reese also contributed by designing the medal for the race.
“Sat there for a couple of hours on Adobe, my girlfriend would tell me what looked terrible and what looked good, and sent over a few different options, and I was happy enough they liked one of them,” he said.
“They were all so good,” Jane Gaudreau added. “That means so much to our family. Zach will always be a part of the 5K,” Jane Gaudreau added.
The medal will commemorate John and Matthew’s competitive spirit, while the playground will add to their legacy. “The amount of people that are coming to the race, physically, and virtual, is a tribute to John and Matty and how much they meant to everyone,” said Jane Gaudreau.
The family hopes to raise $600,000 to break ground on the playground this summer. Participants can still sign up to join the 5K virtually from Columbus. The race will be held in Sewell, New Jersey, on May 31. People can also choose to donate.