In Sewell, New Jersey, a tragedy gave way to a testament of hope and community spirit. Just days after brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau tragically lost their lives when they were hit by a vehicle while cycling before their sister Katie’s wedding, family friends gathered with their parents, Guy and Jane Gaudreau, at their home while a thunderstorm raged outside. When the rain ceased, a double rainbow emerged, offering them a brief respite from their sorrow.
Jane Gaudreau, hoping for a heavenly sign from her sons, sat in their room on a cloudy Friday and asked for a miraculous break in the weather for an upcoming event honoring their memories. Etched with concerns of a tornado watch the night before, her prayers were seemingly answered when a rainbow cast its arc across the sky on Saturday morning. An hour later, the sun illuminated the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Walk/Run and Family Day.
“I was so relieved,” Jane expressed, overwhelmed with gratitude, as she interpreted the rainbow as a comforting sign from her sons. The event drew thousands to Washington Lake Park in southern New Jersey, a place John and Matthew had cherished since childhood, near Hollydell Ice Arena where they first learned to skate. Over 1,100 participated in person, with an additional 1,300 joining virtually from diverse locations including the U.S., Canada, and even globally.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, among several NHL players attending, remarked on the Gaudreau family’s close-knit nature and enduring appeal. “You just see the support from this community and from other players here today. It truly shows the kind of legacy Johnny and Matty left behind,” Tkachuk stated, illustrating the impact the brothers had on their community.
In addition to paying tribute to NHL star “Johnny Hockey” and his brother Matty, the day aimed to raise funds for an inclusive playground at Archbishop Damiano School, where Jane Gaudreau and her daughter Kristen are employed. The project, initially championed by the brothers in their grandmother Marie’s memory, became Jane’s mission following their untimely deaths.
Long-time family friend Deb Vasutoro, who conceived the 5K idea, noted, “Jane works every day with children with disabilities and understood the playground’s importance. It became the perfect way to commemorate her sons and make children smile.”
Father Allain Caparas of Gloucester Catholic High School, where John and Matthew honed their hockey skills, endorsed the playground effort as an extension of the brothers’ community influence. Their legacy, he emphasized, continues in the positive changes they inspire.
Social media abounded with messages from fans and friends spanning galaxies from Columbus and Calgary to Ireland and Sweden. Paul O’Connor, a family confidant, experienced an overwhelming deluge of registrations and contributions, underscoring the event’s sweeping reach.
Guy and Jane Gaudreau were visibly moved by the community’s turnout. Speaking succinctly yet poignantly, Guy thanked attendees, stating, “It really means a lot to Jane and the family. We miss the boys, and having you here in their honor is incredibly meaningful.”
The crowd, initially dampened by rain but subsequently warmed by sunshine, was peppered with sports fans clad in hockey gear. Tkachuk and fellow players, including Erik Gudbranson and Zach Aston-Reese, gifted winners with sticks collected from recent vigils.
“Our family wouldn’t have missed this,” Gudbranson said, having flown in directly after a Disney World visit. “Hockey’s a tight community, and this tragic loss has had such a profound effect on us all.”
The event was so successful that plans are underway to make it an annual tradition, potentially extending to locations like Calgary and Columbus.
Jane beamed with determination, saying, “We hope to continue honoring the boys in this meaningful way, growing each year, bringing even more joy and remembrance.”