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WINSTON-SALEM – A family working to raise awareness about the disease that cut their daughter’s life short launched a non-profit to do just that Saturday.

Michelle and Cory Boyte founded the Lillie’s Friends Foundation for their daughter, who would have been five last Thursday.

They held a birthday bash for Lillie at the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem and hoped to raise awareness about neuroblastoma.

“Neuroblastoma is a very rare and aggressive form of pediatric cancer, and once kids are diagnosed, typically, there’s only a 30 percent chance to survive,” Michelle Boyte said. “What we hope to do is raise funds for research that will move the needle a little bit more for these kids. Really, 50 years ago, leukemia had a four percent cure rate. Today it’s over 90 percent.”

The Boytes said they plan to make the festival an annual event.

To learn more about the foundation and neuroblastoma, visit the foundation’s Web site.