Teen Cancer Awareness Week
Bite Me Cancer led the charge for Teen Cancer Awareness Week to be designated for the 3rd week of January in Virginia every year. This designation helps to spread awareness of the specific challenges teenagers with cancer encounter on their journey.
Since 2015, the third week of January is annually recognized as
"Teen Cancer Awareness Week."
During 2014, Bite Me Cancer worked with delegates of the Virginia General Assembly over the course of a year to help make House Joint Resolution 161, designating "Teen Cancer Awareness Week" in Virginia. This act was unanimously passed by both houses of the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia Governor Hon. Terry McAuliffe signed a proclamation for the new Teen Cancer Awareness Week, joined by Delegate Tom Rust, Delegate Ken Plum, Nikki Ferraro, and fellow cancer survivors during the signing ceremony.
In January 2024, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation to Bite Me Cancer in honor of Teen Cancer Awareness Week in Virginia.
Here is Sharon Ferraro, Nikki’s mom and Board of Directors Secretary, making a presentation about Teen Cancer Awareness Week and Bite Me Cancer’s leadership to support teenagers who deal with all cancers.
Va. Gov.Terry McAuliffe and Nikki Ferraro of Bite Me Cancer
Va. Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Nikki Ferraro of Bite Me Cancer proclaiming the third week of January as Teen Cancer Awareness week in Virginia starting in 2015.
The Fight Continues...
Cancer among adolescents is still the leading cause of death from disease in teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19. Because of the significance of this act, “This is a critical step forward in publicly recognizing the unique needs that teenagers with cancer deal with and how they deserve specific support. Which is different for younger children and young adults." Nikki stated. "When I was diagnosed at 17 years old, I received a few support bags for much younger children, and I couldn’t find anyone who could relate to what I was going through. We are extremely grateful to the Governor, the resolution’s patrons: Delegates Rust, Plum, Comstock, LeMunyon, and Ransone, and to the General Assembly as a whole for establishing Teen Cancer Awareness Week in support of teenagers with cancer across Virginia.”
Bite Me Cancer continues to spread awareness to the specific challenges of teenagers who battle cancer. Teenagers dealing with cancer have many unique challenges: they understand the seriousness of cancer and the possibility of death, the loss of friendships, the missing of school and activities, the increased need for parents, the loss of independence, the question around getting through middle school, high school or college, and even more.