Help Capt. Chiaverotti Battle Cancer

Please help Virginia Beach Fire Dept Captain Matt Chiaverotti and his family!“Chevy” as he is known to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters has been diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC), metastatic carcinoma, and is currently undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, TX. ATC is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, affecting 1 to 2 individuals per million each year in the United States. Patients are usually diagnosed after 60 years of age; Chevy was 43 years old at time of diagnosis. Chevy will be undergoing multiple radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments at MD Anderson and back at home in Virginia Beach.

Capt. Chiaverotti is a 20+ year decorated and beloved veteran of the Virginia Beach Fire Department. His current position is the Captain of Engine 7, the “Busiest Engine” in the VBFD. Chevy is also a Search Team Manager with FEMA Virginia Task Force 2 and has been with the team for 16+ years. During his career, Chevy has been to thousands of calls to help the citizens of Virginia Beach including structure fires, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescue incidents. Most notably, in April 2012, Chevy spent many hours searching for victims when a F18 jet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach. While firefighters are possibly exposed to cancer causing carcinogens at every structure fire they respond to, this incident involved burning carbon fiber and copious amounts of firefighting foam. Exposure to burning carbon fiber and firefighting foam has been linked to cause cancer. Chevy also has deployed many times with VATF2 and has responded to disasters to assist citizens in the US, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.

Chevy has been married to his wife Sara for 15 years and they have an 11-year-old son, Gus, who started his first year of Middle School this month. Sara is a kindergarten teacher and has been with Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 23+ years. Sara is by her husband’s side at MD Anderson and is Matt’s biggest advocate. Family members are with Gus in Virginia Beach, trying to keep some normalcy during a very trying time.

Matt and Sara have served our community for many years, helping endless amounts of citizens and children. They now need our help! Please help support Matt and his family as he battles Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer!