Family Moved By 'Beautiful' Support for Nickolas Anzalone

The goal of Cops for Kids with Cancer is to aid children in their recovery and ensure that they aren't forgotten in their time of need, although the latter hasn't been much of a problem for 13-year-old Nickolas Anzalone and his family.

Hundreds packed a highly-successful auction night at The Old Salt on Monday night one day before Cops for Kids with Cancer Chairman Robert Faherty presented Anzalone with a $5,000 check and numerous gifts at the Hampton police station.

Anzalone's story has been fully embraced by Seacoast residents, and it's helped the Hampton teen and his family stay determined through their difficult ordeal.

"It is definitely a beautiful thing that they've done for us," said Christine Anzalone after the check presentation Tuesday. "The whole town has been great. It's been overwhelming."

Cops for Kids with Cancer, founded by a retired Boston, Mass., police captain named John Dow after his cancer was cured in 1980, has given over $1 million to children and families since 2008, according to Faherty. Seventy-six families were helped last year, and 64 have received $5,000 checks so far this year as part of a series of ceremonies that Faherty said are rewarding to oversee.

"The best part is helping the families and seeing how it affects them," said Faherty. "A lot of families are really destitute [after paying for expensive chemotherapy and hospital visits]. Some lose their homes. It's terrible."

The nonprofit charity raises funds through a variety of means, and children are selected through nominations from police officers from across New England, the charity's board members or the Boston Children's Hospital.

"If we have the money, we can't say no," said Faherty.

A variety of other fundraisers are scheduled to help Anzalone, who was quiet but appreciative of his gifts Tuesday. One such event is a comedy night in Salem on Thursday.

Christine Anzalone said Nickolas is "going to kick it" because he's a "strong kid," although she said this week has been a "tough week of chemo." Nickolas has undergone chemotherapy each of past three weeks.

"He's just starting to feel better," said his mother. "We're going to beat this."

The community is still raising money for the family through a GoFundMe.com page for Nickolas Anzalone. The target is $20,000, although that may have been surpassed Tuesday thanks to the Cops for Kids with Cancer donation.

More information about Anzalone can be found on the Nickolas Anzalone Cancer Treatment Fund Facebook page.