ILION, N.Y. (WKTV) - A charity gala was held Saturday evening in Ilion to raise money for families of young children diagnosed with a life threatening illness. "An Evening of Grace" is named after Gracie Lawton, the 21 month old who passed away earlier this year after battling cancer.

Gracie's parents, Geoff and Lisa, want to raise money for families with children who have a terminal illness under the age of two and half years old.

The Lawton's want to help those families create memories with their children, while at the same time, keeping the memory of Gracie alive. "We were able to do that with our daughter and we know how hard it is to concentrate on the important things when you are in the hospital. Basically all you want to do is find a cure but it's also important to make those memories and there's not a whole lot of funding for people out there for a child with a terminal illness or cancer under the age of 2.5 years to have the family create memories. She's affected so many people and people's lives," said Gracie's father Geoff Lawton. "Honestly it's a struggle day to day, everyday for us and it's our therapy to know that we are helping out other families."

Since Gracie's death in January, The Amazing Gracie Gift Foundation has been able to sponsor a room at the Ronald Mcdonald house in Albany, in Gracie's name. The foundation made a $25,000 donation.

Some of the proceeds from the gala will also go to help families pay for the travel costs that are associated with medical visits.

The band Showtime played at the gala and a buffet dinner was served. The Lawtons hope to make this charity gala an annual event.