Bite Me Cancer founder and cancer survivor Nikki Ferraro has raised $1 million in funds for her organization since her diagnosis in 2010. September is the ninth anniversary of Bite Me Cancer.
There will be a celebration for the foundation’s milestones Oct. 4 at Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill at 6 p.m. The $1 million achievement includes $37,000 raised from Ferraro’s first and second American Cancer Relay for Life events, which were shortly after her diagnosis. The other funds were raised directly through the foundation.
Ferraro formed Bite Me Cancer in September 2010, five months after she was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer. Then a junior at Chantilly High School, Ferraro’s foundation was born out of her desire to fill the support void for teens battling cancer. Bite Me Cancer operates with the dual goals of supporting teens with cancer of any kind as well as funding thyroid cancer research grants.
“Teenage cancer patients have specific needs and interests, though often they are grouped with younger children in pediatric wards or with adults who are much older,” Ferraro said. “I am so proud of our work to fill a void and to make the hospital and treatment experience for teens with cancer more pleasant. We help them feel less alone.”
Volunteers have put together and coordinated deliveries of 6,300 Bite Me Cancer Teen Support Bags at 120 hospitals across 47 states and D.C. Each bag includes a stress ball, a Bite Me Cancer baseball cap, a journal for writing and drawing, a water bottle, an Amazon gift card, earbuds, an adult coloring book, a game book, a Bite Me Cancer car magnet and more.
Thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in the United States, and the organization works to increase awareness and research funding. Bite Me Cancer has funded six direct thyroid cancer research grants, and foundation leaders speak directly with the researchers to learn about their progress.
“I am continually amazed at the dedication of our volunteers who want to help Bite Me Cancer succeed, which includes our awesome board of directors and the members of all of our committees,” Ferraro said. “Also, I am so very grateful for all the financial support we’ve received from our sponsors, individual donors, those who have held fundraisers, and to all who have attended our events.”
Bite Me Cancer’s annual wine dinner will be April 25, 2020, at Westfield Country Club, Vienna, Virginia. The largest fundraising event for the organization, it has grown from 50 attendees in 2014 to 225 guests in 2019.