Thousands of runners and families gathered Saturday morning at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, Gloucester County, for the annual Gaudreau 5K & Family Fun Day, an event created to honor the memory of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were killed in a suspected drunk‑driving crash last August.
The ceremony, held under bright spring skies, featured a moment of silence, a ribbon‑cutting and a procession of cyclists who paid tribute to the brothers’ legacy on the ice and in the community.
A Community Rallies in Memory of the Gaudreau Brothers
All proceeds from the race are directed to the Gaudreau Family Foundation, a nonprofit that offers free skating and hockey instruction to underserved youth, aiming to remove financial barriers to youth sports.
Organizers highlighted that last year’s inaugural 5K raised more than half a million dollars, funds that helped finance an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School, a facility that serves children with special needs.
Jane Gaudreau, the mother of Johnny and Matthew, has worked at Archbishop Damiano School for over four decades, and she addressed the crowd, thanking volunteers and emphasizing the foundation’s ongoing impact on local families.
Participants of all ages wore shirts bearing the brothers’ numbers, and many said the event provided a healing space to celebrate lives cut short while supporting a cause that reflects the brothers’ love of the game.
The atmosphere blended solemn remembrance with festive energy, as local bands performed and food trucks offered fare from neighborhood eateries.
City officials praised the organizers for turning grief into action, noting that the fundraiser exemplifies how sport can drive social change and bring people together.
With the foundation’s next phase focusing on expanding mentorship programs, the 5K is poised to become an annual staple that not only raises money but also keeps the spirit of Johnny and Matthew alive in the hearts of New Jersey residents.