Austin Reardon, a Norwood resident, Saint Catherine of Siena School Class of 2015 graduate, Norwood High School Class of 2019 graduate, and rising senior in the University of Maine's School of Engineering, died in the summer of 2023 in a highway accident while in North Carolina for a summer internship.

Austin loved hockey and played from a young age throughout his school years, including at the University of Maine. He also enjoyed working on cars, spending time with family and friends, and, most of all, living life to the fullest.

The Austin Reardon 5K (AR5K) was established in his memory to honor the love, friendship, and joy he brought to everyone who knew him, while also giving back to the community he loved so much.

The 3rd Annual AR5K will take place on Sunday, October 11, at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 572 Nichols Street, Norwood. The event features a 5K (3.1-mile) walk or run and is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Cost is $40 (plus $4.90 registration fee). To sign up, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Norwood/AR5KRoadRace.

All registered participants will receive a pair of the popular AR5K socks, a fan favorite each year. In addition, the event will donate 450 pairs of socks to the Pine Street Inn in his memory.

The morning will include food, music, and raffles. Every registered participant will also receive a complimentary raffle ticket to place in the raffle basket of their choice. The organizers aim to have 30 raffle baskets each year-Austin's hockey jersey number-with each basket valued at $200 or more.

While the AR5K is designed to be a fun event for the entire community, one of the organizers' greatest sources of pride is the scholarship program established in Austin's name for graduating Norwood High School seniors.

In both 2024 and 2025 road races, the event raised enough money to award $25,000 in scholarships to each graduating class. Each year, one student received a $20,000 scholarship, while five additional students received $1,000 scholarships. In addition, we offer one $1000 scholarship to a Norwood student that attends a non-Norwood high school.

The Norwood High Class of 2026 Austin Reardon 5K scholarship recipients are:

$20,000 Scholarship: Riley Barnett

$1,000 Scholarship: Theresa Begg

$1,000 Scholarship: Reagan Pritchard

$1,000 Scholarship: Kaitlin Malley

$1,000 Scholarship: Brody Pacheco

$1,000 Scholarship: Bridget Kidd

The Norwood resident, non NHS Class of 2026 recipient is:

$1,000 Scholarship: Sofia Duran, Fontbonne Class of 2026

All Norwood residents that are part of their respected Class of 2027 are encouraged to review the scholarship application at https://www.ar5kroadrace.com/scholarships. One of the requirements is to participate in the event by running, walking or volunteering. Volunteer opportunities are available both the week before and week after the event.

The AR5K could not take place without the generous support of its sponsors, the Norwood community, and all of the participants who come out each year to honor Austin's memory and support its mission.

Registration is available through the AR5K website (https://www.ar5kroadrace.com/scholarships), and Race Roster/RunSignup (https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Norwood/AR5KRoadRace). Those who cannot attend but would still like to support the event can make a donation online or contribute in-kind gifts, such as gift cards or raffle items.

For registration, donations, sponsorship information, or other questions, please visit the race website or email [email protected].

We hope to see you there as we come together to remember Austin, celebrate his life, support the community he loved, and continue his legacy of giving back.