|
By Joe Hofmann
|
|
Published in Daily Record - March
6, 2005
|
|
It started out as a charity event for an
ailing young wrestler.
|
|
It has turned into many indescribable gifts
of love.
|
|
When Tony and Laurie Spaziani heard that
Hopatcong second-grader Nicholas Cautero had an inoperable brain tumor in mid-January, they decided to host a benefit
tournament in Hopatcong to help defray the family’s medical expenses.
|
|
“We heard and we decided we just had to
do something,” Laurie Spaziani said.
|
|
Little did they know what would follow.
Even though the tournament will be held Sunday at Hopatcong High, the giving has been taking place for well over
a month for Nicholas, who attends Tulsa Trail grammar school in Hopatcong and goes to Morristown Memorial for chemotherapy
treatments three times a week.
|
|
A family from Colts Neck in Monmouth County
heard of the Cautero family’s situation and donated $1,500. Others in the wrestling community all over the metropolitan
are have chipped in to the tune of $5,000 — and the first whistle of the benefit tournament to defray medical expenses
hasn’t even been blown yet.
|
|
The wrestling community has given in many
other ways. When Paramus High wrestled at Hopatcong last month, the Bergen County team’s members signed a tee-shirt
and presented it to Nicholas. Lenape Valley’s youth wrestling association held a tournament and donated its 50-50
proceeds of almost $748. Randolph’s midget wrestlers came up with $636. Other wrestling organizations raised money
as well. And if they didn’t send a check, they contributed food items or drinks for Sunday.
|
|
“Kittatinny was the first call to see how
they could help,” Laurie Spaziani said. “The Hampton-Sandyston Junior program called. The Hopatcong Warriors (football
program) donated water, Gatorade and food for Sunday. So did Lenape Valley. The outpouring has been just great.
People have asked to help set up. The Hopatcong Board of Education donated the high school facility.
|
|
“Like Vin (Cautero, Nicholas’ father) said,
‘You have no room in the paper to list the outpouring there has been for this child.’ ” Of course, the tournament
figures to raise quite a bit. The Spaziani’s said that about $8,000 has been raised already and they hope to raise
a total of $15,000 after Sunday’s wrestling is completed.
|
|
They have already enlisted referees, scorekeepers
and runners for the four-mat event for free. The medals for the 400 or so wrestlers expected to compete have been
accounted for by an organization from Tarrytown, N.Y. Anthony and Sons of Denville has donated bread for Sunday.
|
|
“I’m sure we are forgetting about 100 different
people who have helped in some way,” Laurie Spaziani said.
|
|
They hope to get an inspirational boost
as well. That might come from Lodi High School senior 112-pounder Matt Pecora, who was disagnosed with the same
kind of tumor that plagues Nicholas when he was seven years old. Percora has been extended an invitation to attend
and visit with Nicholas.
|
|
“That boy is an inspiration,” Laurie Spaziani
said.
|
|
The weigh-ins for the wrestling have already
taken place. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Laurie or Tony Spaziani at 973-601-3354 or
201-874-8830.
|
