Abilene will say a final goodbye Thursday to a teen who made a big impact on those around her during her 18 years on this earth.

Following a long battle, 18-year-old Carly Gassman lost her fight with cancer and passed away late last Friday night.

Carly was an inspiration to her family, friends, and peers.

While attending Abilene High School, Carly played through the pain of a brain tumor, and radiation and chemotherapy treatments, as a member of the girls’s basketball team. She was voted the Most Inspirational Player at the 2012 Salina Invitation Basketball Tournament, along with Salina South’s McKenzie Haynes who also was battling cancer.

At the conclusion of her senior year, Carly was the Abilene recipient of the KSAL Sportcaster Club Scholarship. Schools nominate several student athletes for the scholarship, and Sportscaster Club sponsors then vote on who they believe is most deserving.

After graduating from Abilene High School, Carly attended Kansas State University where she majored in pre-nursing and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She was a 4.0 student her first semester at K-State.

As Carly continued her battle with cancer, she was an inspiration to her college classmates and friends as well. The acronym PFCG “Pray For Carly Gassman” appeared on signs, and clothing items including wristbands and bracelets in Manhattan, and Abilene. A “Pray For Carly Gassman” Facebook page also appeared online.

After learning of her passing, the K-State baseball team paid tribute to Carly this past weekend with “Pray For Carly Gassman” on their hats. Several players also wrote the letters on their wrist tape. The team plans to do it for the rest of the season in memory of Carly.

A mass of Christian Burial for Carly Marie Gassman will be at 10:30 Thursday morning at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Abilene with Father Henry Baxa as Celebrant. Carly’s final resting place will be in the Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery, Abilene.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Carly Marie Gassman Scholarship Fund or to the St. Andrew Catholic School and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410.