Country music stars and fans are mourning the death of 13-year-old Lane Goodwin, whose battle with cancer gained national attention when a Facebook campaign to show support for him went viral.

Artists like Jake Owen, Chris Young, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Josh Turner, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and many others posted photos of themselves giving the thumbs-up sign in support of Goodwin, who was first diagnosed with Stage IV Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2010. The very rare and aggressive form of cancer affects only one in a million children. Goodwin underwent 41 weeks of chemotherapy after the initial diagnosis, but his disease returned in July of 2011, and again in May of 2012. He passed away Wednesday evening (Oct. 17, 2012) at his home in Beech Grove, Ky.

"At 7:53 pm our sweet Lane gained his Angel wings," his family posted to the Prayers for Lane Goodwin Facebook page. "Our hearts are broken but God has performed a World Wide Miracle through Lane over the past few weeks. Please continue to pray for our family especially Lane's little brother Landen."

Country's Rodney Atkins reacted to the sad news on Twitter, posting, "Please keep @TeamLaneGoodwin's family in your thoughts & prayers in this time of loss. Lane touched many in his short life." David Nail also mourned the boy's loss, posting simply, "RIP Lane Goodwin."

The Courier-Journal reports that funeral arrangements are pending. Goodwin's family issued the following statement today:

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. 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.

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