Retired cop saddles up for St. Jude's Hospital

Warwick - Frank Gaudiello, a retired mounted New York City Police officer, saddled up his retired police horse who goes by the name of Zeus and rode from Ryerson Road to the Village of Warwick, and then to St. Anthony Community Hospital last Saturday. The ride, explained Gaudiello, was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The program, “Saddle Up For St. Jude,” is a volunteer-based, fund-raising event in which riders, often large groups or organizations, take part in a fun horseback ride. Participants receive sponsorship materials and then contact family and friends to gather donations for taking part in the ride. Gaudiello’s hope was not only raising money but also raising awareness for the research that St. Jude Children’s Hospital does relating to childhood diseases. “St. Jude’s never turns anyone away,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have money. No one pays for treatment beyond what is covered by insurance, and those without insurance are never asked to pay They will do everything they can to help your child.” Gaudiello, who now lives in Greenwood Lake with his wife, Rosalie, was born and raised in Brooklyn. His love for horses as a youngster eventually led him to join the New York City Police Mounted Unit. “It was the only way I could afford to ride,” he laughed. Gaudiello also received a Purple Heart while serving in Viet Nam and recently, he became a cancer survivor after having half a lung removed. “That operation was last May and it was a tough recovery,” said Gaudiello. “I purchased Zeus, who had been a mounted police horse, in September. He was nervous at first but now he’s my friend. Zeus needed me and I needed him.” Gaudiello felt that riding his horse would provide the necessary exercise to help him recover from the operation but he also vowed that in the future he and Zeus would make a difference in the world by helping to promote and raise funds for worthy charities. “I dedicated my ride for St. Jude,” he said, “to our beloved and healthy grandchildren: Adrianna Gaudiello, Salvatore Giardina, and Madison Julia Rose Giardina.” Although Gaudiello has the expense of paying for feed and other services, his friends, Tom and Ellen Warren, who keep horses on their Ryerson Road property, offered to let Zeus join the herd and share living quarters as a courtesy. Saturday’s ride was also dedicated in memory of Tom and Ellen Warren’s son Tommy Warren Jr., who was killed in a motorcycle accident about four years ago. “I want to thank Tom and Ellen and their son Michael for all their support and help from the beginning of this quest,” said Gaudiello. According to the hospital’s literature, discoveries made at St. Jude have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The hospital’s staff includes some of today’s most gifted researchers. And doctors throughout the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Gaudiello has collected over $2,000 so far and he’s still picking up checks. Donations can also be mailed directly to St. Jude Hospital in support of Frank Gaudiello’s sponsorship. The memo section on the check should include the sponsorship number: CS# M249285-1 and then be mailed to: St. Jude, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, Tenn., 38101-0050.