VIRGINIA BEACH — Virginia Beach firefighters are rallying behind a colleague who is battling a rare form of cancer, and they’re reaching out to the public to help raise money to help his family.
One opportunity to help is scheduled for this evening at The Thin Brew Line on Oceana Boulevard.
Capt. Matt Chiaverotti, a 20-year veteran of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, is now in Houston undergoing treatment at M.D. Anderson Medical Center.
“It came out of the blue,” said Max Gonano, president of the Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters and EMS Local 2924.
Chiaverotti, who serves as captain of Engine 7, has anaplastic thyroid cancer, a very rare, aggressive cancer, according to Gonano. His colleagues are organizing fundraisers to help offset the staggering medical costs for the family.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer affects only 2 percent of patients with thyroid cancer, and it’s generally diagnosed in people over 60, according to the American Thyroid Association. It is extremely aggressive and often metastasizes to other areas of the body.
Gonano has known Chiaverotti — or “Chevy,” as he is nicknamed — for several years and described him as a “great firefighter and a good officer.”
Engine 7, Gonano added, is part of the busiest station in Virginia Beach. It receives 4,000 calls a year.
Chiaverotti is also search team manager for Virginia Task Force 2, and he was one of the firefighters who responded to the 2012 crash of an F-18 into an apartment complex. He is married to Sara Chiaverotti and has one child, 11-year-old Gus.
Captain Billy Scott, who described Chiaverotti as his best friend, said that they’d worked together from 2010 to 2014 before they were both promoted to captain. Scott was able to visit Chiaverotti in Houston for Chiaverotti’s birthday on Monday, Oct. 3.
The cancer treatment’s been very challenging, Scott said, but despite that Chiaverotti was able to enjoy his birthday. He’s also been visited by other firefighters who accompanied Gus out to Houston to visit his father. Chiaverotti, Gus and the others attended a Houston Astros game.
Firefighters are teaming up with the community to help the Chiaverottis with medical bills. Norfolk firefighters held a raffle earlier this month, and a firefighters group in Texas is helping to provide housing while he’s in Houston. Virginia Beach firefighters recently got together for a fundraising event at CP Shuckers, and they are also reaching out to the public for help.
Contributions can be made to help the family via gofundme.com at this link.
In addition, these other events are scheduled that are open to the public:
- Get together at The Thin Brew Line, 1375 Oceana Boulevard, at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the fundraising effort, and the event includes a raffle and live music.
- A workout on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Stability CrossFit, 1944 Laskin Road. This intense workout will include burpees, kettlebell swings and box jumps. Reach Christopher Zach at (732) 857-0561 for more information or find Stability CrossFit on Facebook via @StabilityCrossFit.
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