Former Westlake student's death spurs marathon ambitions
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Former Westlake wide receiver Reeves Gauthreaux. Photo: Courtesy of the Gauthreaux family
Nearly 30 friends and family will run the New York City Marathon on Sunday to celebrate the life of former Westlake football wide receiver Reeves Gauthreaux.
Flashback: On Christmas Eve last year, the Gauthreaux family told each other their goals for the next year. Reeves, the second oldest child, said he wanted to train for the New York marathon.
- Reeves, 25, didn't wake up on Christmas morning, his father Kyle told Axios. The family said they do not know the cause of death.
- Nearly 30 friends and family members will take on 26.2 miles across the five boroughs of New York to remember their son, brother and friend.
What they're saying: Following Reeves' death, the family got a group together to run the race in his memory.
- Kyle, who has run the New York race twice, tells Axios he had retired from marathon running.
- "In years past, it was all about my target time," Kyle said. "This one is celebrating Reeves' legacy and just finishing the race. There's no expectations whatsoever."
- "I'm sure the race is going to be super emotional," he added. "It will get us through the pain of another marathon with older legs than I once had."
Zoom in: The Run It For Reeves team includes his two brothers Hayes and James, his mom Jamie, Austin friends and University of Colorado Boulder classmates — many of whom have never run a marathon.
- "He was a soft-spoken kid, but behind the scenes, he was truly a connector," Kyle said. "That's the legacy that's forever going to be remembered about him."
By the numbers: The group has raised more than $130,000 for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research since they entered in January.
- "That number continues to grow, and we feel like it's just a good reflection on who Reeves was as a person," Kyle said.
Context: Roughly 50,000 runners will participate in the marathon, many of whom will enter through the charity program, which requires each participant to raise money for their chosen cause. The minimum amounts vary and start at $3,000, $4,000 or $5,000, depending on the charity.
- The Run It For Reeves team chose Parkinson's and Alzheimer's organizations because of family members who have been affected by the diseases. Each participant raised a minimum of $4,000, according to Kyle.
What's next: You can donate to Run It For Reeves' fundraising campaign for the Alzheimer's Association or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
- The marathon kicks off at 7am CST, and Reeves' 8-year-old sister Cecily and stepmom Lauren will be on the sidelines cheering them on.