Callie Zola is a 17-year-old Mamaroneck High School senior, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma just after turning 16 years old in the midst of midterm exams during her junior year. She subsequently missed six months of school during her chemotherapy treatment. While undergoing chemotherapy, Callie was homeschooled, kept up with her academics, visited colleges, acted in her school’s Shakespeare production, attended her junior prom, and launched a poignant blog CallieInterrupted.blogspot.com, recounting her physical and emotional battle with the disease.

Now in remission, Callie hopes her story will provide powerful motivation to the Man and Woman of the Year candidates competing to raise funds in support of blood cancer research. She is the first teenager ever selected to be Girl of the Year by the Connecticut Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter. The honor typically goes to younger children.

To donate in honor of Callie, please click here.