Michael Friedman, the young founder of the Mikey's Way Foundation, has lost his battle with cancer, but is now being remembered for the legacy he left behind.
After fighting the disease for over four years, "Mikey," 19, of Easton, passed away on Sunday. Family and friends are remembering him for his vibrant personality and how hard he worked to help others.
In 2004, just after his 15th birthday, Mikey was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Less than a year later, he was given one wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and didn't use it on himself.
Instead, he chose to start the Mikey's Way Foundation as a way to help other kids with cancer. In 2006, he spent time at Yale-New Haven Hospital giving iPods and PlayStations to other kids with cancer.
Mikey's cancer went in and out of remission while he finished school, graduating as valedictorian from Joel Barlow High School in 2007.
He then went on to Harvard where he worked on trying to find a cure for cancer. He was a sophomore at Harvard this year.
Mikey's Way Foundation has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars in less than three years to help kids with cancer. Mikey's family says it will keep the foundation going in his honor.