MCLEAN, KY (WAVE) – Funeral arrangements have been made for a teenager who inspired thousands with a simple thumbs up. Services were held Sunday night.
Visitation will continue on Monday, October 22 from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. His funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. All services will be held at Calhoun Baptist Church in Calhoun, KY.
There will be a link for a live stream of the service on the Prayers for Lane Goodwin Facebook page.
Goodwin was first diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in March of 2010. He relapsed twice and the cancer eventually spread to his brain. He passed away Wednesday night.
"We would like to thank the community for the incredible display of human kindness over the past two and a half years. Our sweet Lane had a beautiful smile. He was full of energy and loved sharks, fishing, soccer, adventure and his brother, Landen. Lane had an incredible Christian faith, and we are able to find peace in the extraordinary life he lived in his short few years," a Facebook post on the page says.
"We have been amazed and touched by the worldwide thumbs up movement in honor of Lane. Lane believed that the awareness this movement brought for childhood cancers would lead to a cure. Lane's legacy will live on as we move forward with the commitment we made to him to find a cure."
Sunday night's service lasted for about an hour.
"That's why we're hear tonight, to comfort one another," a speaker said.
Some 25,000 people watched the online service from all over the globe.
One by one, people passed through the church, offering comfort to the Goodwin family.
Lane fought cancer for more two years. In an interview before he lost his courageous fight, his parents describe his battle.
"He doesn't want to fight with chemo and stuff anymore and there's no point at this point. He just wants to enjoy the time. He said, I'm ready," his mom said.
Those are words that are not easy for any parent to hear. He passed away Wednesday at the age of 13.
Hundreds packed the Water Front Friday night in Louisville to remember the Beech Groove, Kentucky teen.
"I have a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old at home and it could easily have been one of my kids. I have been following their strength. They have been an inspiration to me. I think of Lane as a hero," said Kristy Black-Denney.
Lane spoke in an interview just weeks before that, about the number of likes his thumbs up campaign had received.
When asked if a million likes was too far out of reach, he said, "I think even more than that," with a smile.
Friends, strangers, and even celebrities offered a thumbs up for the 13-year-old, from WAVE 3's Dawne Gee, to celebrities like Reba McEntire.
Something as seemingly small as a thumbs up turned into a gigantic movement.
A family friend describes why it was so important to Lane.
"Thumbs up meant a symbol to him, to everyone, to keep on fighting and that's what Lane did," Tim Wahl said.
His funeral will be held Monday.
If you would like to leave a message for his family, click here.
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