Imagine being an outgoing 9-year old girl who loves fashion and enjoys playing with your siblings. Then, you learn that you have cancer. That’s precisely what happened to Zoey.

In February 2018, she was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive tumor in the body’s soft tissues. Zoey asked her doctor, “Am I going to die? Am I going to lose my hair?” It was definitely an emotional time for her family, including her older sister and younger brother. Everyone was scared and concerned about the future. But Zoey told them, “I’m going to fight this because I’m strong.”

Zoey’s treatment began in March 2018 at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she had surgery to remove the tumor mass. After the surgery, she underwent 42 weeks of radiochemotherapy. Zoey completed her treatment in August 2019 and is cancer-free.

Now 10 years old, Zoey has made quite a splash on several local runways including the 5th Annual Bloomingdale’s Runway Heroes Show and the Kleinfeld/Runway Heroes Show. She’s even experienced her very first Major League Soccer game with NYCFC!

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Join Hope & Heroes in raising awareness and support to help local children and families fighting these diseases. Visit hopeandheroes.org/September to learn more.