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LI Children's Choir To Hold Concert To Benefit Children's Cancer Center

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A children's choir on Long Island is getting ready for the biggest concert of their lives.

As CBS 2's Tracey Carrasco reported, later this month the North Shore Nightingales, a choir made up of middle school girls, will sing for a good cause -- a benefit concert to raise money in the fight against cancer.

"I feel really honored because grandmother died of cancer and we all know someone whose been affected," said Zoe Siegel, with the North Shore Nightingales.

Not only has cancer touched 12-year-old Zoe's life, but also the family of her classmate Hannah Schoen whose mother Elizabeth was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer 11 years ago.

"I was 7 months pregnant when I was diagnosed," Elizabeth Schoen said. "My daughter was born and when she was six weeks old I had surgery."

After aggressive chemotherapy and several more surgeries, Schoen is now cancer free and just one reason why the choir will sing.

"She's courageous and inspiring and strong," Hannah said of her mom.

Choir director Brian Messemer said the benefit concert was Henry Schoen's idea as a tribute to his wife. He picked a song for the choir to sing, honoring her and others battling cancer, Carrasco reported.

"It's really a song about hope and it's a song about family," Messemer said.

It's a simple message with the idea that together they can beat even the toughest of diseases.

The concert is set for Saturday, Oct. 25 at the New Apostolic Church in Woodbury, New York. Tickets are $15 and all proceeds will benefit the Children's Cancer Center at Winthrop University Hospital.

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