The Fairport School District confirms that Blake Cognata, a student athlete in the district who had been battling a rare form of bone cancer for nearly a year, passed away early Saturday.

Cognata was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a form of cancer that affects mostly children and teens, in February. In the months that followed, he received an outpouring of support from the community and his classmates.

Earlier this week, students at Fairport sold t-shirts to help support their classmate. They also spray-painted a large yellow ribbon outside of Fairport High School in honor of Blake.

On Monday, Blake received a phone call from NFL running back Adrian Peterson after the Minnesota Viking took notice of his friends’ outpouring of support on Twitter. Blake’s family said the call made his day.

Blake would have celebrated his 18th birthday this coming Monday.