Nicole Ferraro Says "Bite Me Cancer"

Name:  Nicole (Nikki) Ferraro

School: Chantilly High School

Accomplishment: Last June, Nikki organized a Relay for Life team called "Bite Me Cancer" that raised $5,000 after only three days!  She also claimed first place as an individual fundraiser.  Nikki wanted to continue raising money, so with the help of her parents, she started the Bite Me Cancer Foundation last September that aims to fight cancer through research and education.

Nikki was then presented with the 2010 Leadership Fairfax Non-Profit Educational Leadership Award in November.

She is now focused on raising money for this year's Relay for Life on June 4 at Centreville High School.   Her and her mom are schedule to speak at the kick-off meeting on Feb. 28. 

Key to Awesomeness: On April 6, 2010, Nikki was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer called Medullary Thyroid Cancer at the age of 17.

After getting home that evening, Sharon (Nikki's mom) offered Nikki words of encouragement, and they began to come to terms about the situation.  Sharon even joked, “You still have to clean your room even though you have thyroid cancer.” 

Nikki then asked her mom if she could still go to the soccer game that night.  Sharon responded by telling her daughter that she could do anything she put her mind to.  Nikki then pointed out that she was only asking if she could still drive after taking a Vallium before the biopsy that revealed the cancer.

“To me that was a good example to how she’s handled it, where as I was thinking all about the cancer and her journey,” said Sharon. 

After a series of surgeries and radiation treatments, Nikki and her mom remain optimistic.  "You're stronger than you think you are," said Sharon. "If you're positive, you really can get through anything."

Nikki can often be found telling her friends and family that "anything is possible if you just believe." 

You can keep up with Nikki and her story on her blog.