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Neuse Charter dedicates homecoming basketball game to 5-year-old girl who died of brain cancer

The Neuse Charter community came together Friday to shower Lilian Blackman's family with love and support after she died from brain cancer in November.

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By
Leslie Moreno
, WRAL multimedia journalist

The Neuse Charter community came together tonight to shower this Lilian Blackman's family with love and support.

Lilian Blackman lost her life to brain cancer in November, and tonight’s basketball game was dedicated to her.

She was only five years old when she passed away, leaving behind her twin sister who she loved very much.

Five-year-old Lilian lit up every room, and tonight the school did just that for her and her family.

A sea of yellow represented Blackman and her battle with brain cancer.

The superintendent at Neuse Charter, where she went to school, said her death was unexpected.

"She was the bubbliest, cutest child," said Superintendent Melissa Blackwell. "[She was a] beautiful, beautiful child."

She was diagnosed in April, and students, clubs and athletes supported her, her twin sister and their family every step of the way.

"That’s just what we do that’s just who we are" Blackwell said. "It’s what we do when one of our family members need some thing we’re going to step up and do whatever we can to make it happen."

She passed away on Nov. 4.

The co-athletic director Jennifer Cochren said the little girl's battle brought everyone together.

"I think just that the family saw we were all together to support them was a big deal," Cochren said. "And just like Dr. Blackwell talked about, this has really unified the campus here and the community. It's not affected our athletes, but our entire school."

At tonight’s homecoming game the school presented the family with a ceremony and crowned her twin sister homecoming princess.

"She is doing well as well as can be expected after your twin who was with you since the first breath had to go away," Blackwell said. "It’s been difficult as with any family that loses a child. Grief is real, and it comes in waves."

The school will continue to honor Blackman by wearing yellow. The school was also able to provide family with a donation of love of over $4,000.

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