Community Rallies To Raise $40K For Woodbury Cop

WOODBURY, CT — A fundraiser for a Woodbury police officer and retired state trooper who was recently diagnosed with cancer raised more than $40,000 in its first 24 hours on GoFundMe. Mark Defeo is "being admitted to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and is anticipating a lengthy surgery in the coming days to have the cancer affected areas removed," according to the GoFundMe page started by John Covello.

He will recover for two weeks following that and then undergo two months of chemotherapy.

"If you know Mark, he is the guy that is always willing to help others, and never complains," the GoFundMe page reads. "Daily commutes to New York for him and his family, along with other needs for Mark not covered by insurance, will mount during this time. Please consider a donation to help Mark and his family through this difficult time."

DeFeo is known for training and handling K-9 police dogs, according to The Waterbury Republican-American. He plans to return to the police department following treatment.

DeFeo, 50, who lives in Watertown, was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma affecting his stomach wall, spleen and pancreas. He told the Republican-American he is appreciative of people's generosity and that any leftover funds will be donated to Sloan-Kettering.

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