Livelovely Foundation

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (CBS42) - Sixteen basketball teams played in the first ever Charlie Lovely Classic at Dora High School.

The tournament honors a young athlete who started a childhood cancer foundation.

Charlie Lovely was only sixteen when he died of leukemia this year, but he touched a lot of hearts in that time and left a legacy of helping others.

Dora High School basketball coach Heath Burns remembers Charlie Lovely as a talented athlete with a big heart.

"We created a bond that was much more than just player coach relationship," said Heath Burns. "When Charlie was diagnosed with Leukemia on Halloween which was his birthday, he only lived two months. He died on New Year's Day, well actually when the clock struck twelve on New Year's Day, and this is just a tribute to him and the foundation that he started before he passed away."

"The Livelovely foundation was founded by my little brother Charlie Lovely while he was in the hospital struggling with cancer. He started it to benefit childhood cancer patients that he knew would one day have to go through what he went through," said Laken Lovely. "Charlie left his journal to me and asked me write his story for him and that's what Through Charlie's Eyes is, it's Charlie's story."

Laken Lovely says the proceeds from the basketball tournament plus any bracelets, bumper stickers, or books sold will help their cause. The Charlie Lovely Classic is a team effort that honors a true team player.

"He was a coach's player he defined the word team player," said Heath Burns.

“Basketball was Charlie's number one thing and so to be here and be able to see kids his age that he would be playing with right now if he were still here it's really emotional and it's exciting too. It's exciting that they're here to honor Charlie too. It makes us feel really good."

Learn more about Charlie Lovely's story and ways to help the Livelovely Foundation at http://www.livelovely.org.

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Updated 6005 hours ago   Article ID# 199240

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