Olympian from Seekonk hosts Blue Jean Mile in honor of late brother

SEEKONK, Mass. (WLNE) — After losing his brother to a battle with mental illness, an Olympian from Seekonk has found a unique way to keep his memory alive.

Johnny Gregorek and dozens of other runners gathered Sunday for the annual Blue Jean Mile at Seekonk High School.

Gregorek started the tradition in 2020, running a World Record (4:06) in the event.

But more importantly, the Seekonk native timed his run during Mental Health Awareness Month.

“We lost my younger brother Patrick to a battle with his own mental health struggles,” Gregorek said. “So we wanted to be able to honor him and also create a lighthearted and fun way to raise awareness.”

Both of Gregorek’s parents were also professional runners, but the sort of adversity they faced on the oval could never have prepared them for the sudden loss of their son.

“He was a very special person,” Christine Gregorek said. “I think most of the people here that knew him would answer the very same way.”

Christine said the Covid-19 pandemic provided the perfect opportunity for Johnny to honor his brother.

“He was usually traveling around the world at that time,” she said. “He wasn’t able to [compete] when he came up with that idea of doing something quirky, funny, lighthearted, which reminded him of Patrick.”

Five years later, many others have joined the movement in memory of Patrick.

“I think he’d get a real kick out of it all,” Gregorek said. “I think that’s the idea, to do something that has a tinge of humor to it, while also an underlying message.”

The Gregorek family said all money raised from the Blue Jean Mile goes to the Rhode Island National Alliance on Mental Illness.