Young basketball players hit the court Saturday in Brookville to raise money to fight a deadly disease.

Players gathered at Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in honor of 5-year-old Amanda Kuck, affectionately known as Mandy, who passed away after battling Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a terminal form of pediatric brain cancer before passing away in 2016.

"It never really gets easier,” said Mandy’s mother, Kimberly. “Honestly, as time has passed I think it's gotten harder.”

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Thomas and Kimberly Kuck both worked at Lutheran High School and have led the charge with former students to remember their little girl.

All the proceeds from Saturday’s basketball games go to The Cure Starts Now Foundation, which supports research of the aggressive form of cancer.

Each player on the court and many of the spectators all wore shirts with butterflies, Mandy's favorite symbol.