THOMASVILLE- As the sun shined down on the Biscuit Company Saturday afternoon, laughter and cheers could be heard throughout, while a few silent tears were shed, honoring the life of Saville Sullivan Larkin on what would have been her birthday. 

Saville tragically passed away in October 2023 after a courageous and inspiring 7-year battle with stage 4 malignant brain cancer. 

To celebrate Saville’s birthday, friends, family, and supporters gathered for a Mahjong Tournament benefiting the research and growth of the Knox Martin Foundation for Brain Cancer Research. 

KMF’s namesake Knox was an incredibly courageous young man and family friend of the Sullivans, who also lost his life to brain cancer at the young age of 24. Prior to his death, Knox had the vision to start an organization that would help other young people like him. 

Today, KMF partners with the neuro-oncologists and cutting-edge brain cancer researchers at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. 

Its mission is to reverse the underfunded and under-researched nature of brain cancer by funding innovative research on the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. 

Friends of Saville know she would have been overjoyed to learn her birthday was benefitting others. 

When asked what it meant to have the opportunity to celebrate Saville’s birthday weekend by raising money for research in honor, Saville’s dear friend Molly Mazur, said it best. 

“It means everything to us to celebrate Saville in this way thanks to Grace-Marie’s ideation, planning, and execution of this event,” she said. “Saville’s life was full of love, laughter, and serving others, even in the face of her own quiet, unimaginable challenges. To honor her during her birthday weekend feels especially meaningful- it’s a way to keep her light alive and share her story with others.” 

Mazur went on to say that knowing Saturday’s event could directly contribute to saving someone else’s Saville, thanks to the Knox Martin Foundation, and the platform it has created is profoundly healing. 

“It turns our grief into purpose and ensures that her legacy is one of hope, awareness, and action,” she said. 

Saville’s birthday will now continue to live on for years to come as event organizer Grace-Marie Howard hopes to make the Mahjong Tournament, an annual event. 

For its inaugural year, the event raised approximately $40,000 through donations, charitable giving, and a silent auction. 

“I think it was a great idea to have both social tickets and player tickets- we had a little something for everyone… not just Mahjong players,” Howard said. “The silent auction items that were donated were great and had everyone excited as they were placing bids.” 

Having both attendees there for the tournament and social hour, also allowed for everyone to hear more on KMF’s work. 

“I knew when we decided to sell social tickets that I didn’t want the social ticket holders to miss out on that,” Howard said. “Mrs. Becky (Knox’s mom) has a heart of gold, and I am so happy that all attendees got to hear more about the story and heart behind KMF. All around, I think everyone had a great time.” 

Laura Miles was the tournament winner with 100 total points from four games. She won among 17 tables and 68 players. 

Howard thanked everyone who attended, as she was absolutely blown away by the generosity. 

“I knew we had a great community and that Saville’s story had touched many, but seeing so many people- some that I knew, others that I didn’t- come together in her honor was truly incredible and a real testament to her life and impact,” Howard said. 

As Howard begins her work toward next year’s tournament, she encouraged attendees to keep their ears open, as this year was just the beginning.