Gaudreau Family 5K raises more than $500,000 for accessible playground

DAN GELSTON Associated Press

The first 5K held in memory of John and Matt Gaudreau helped raise more than $500,000, enough to break ground later this year on an accessible playground at the special education school where the hockey players' mother works.

Thousands attended the Gaudreau Family 5K Walk /Run and Family Day in May at Washington Lake Park in southern New Jersey, a place John and Matthew went hundreds of times as kids and around the corner from Hollydell Ice Arena, where they started playing hockey. The 5K drew more than 1,100 participants in the walk, along with more than 1,100 virtually in the U.S., Canada and around the world.

From money raised in the walk, along with contributions made in memory of John and Matt, the financial goal was met for the planned accessible pla