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QUINCY, ILL. -- Family friends say a Tri-State boy will be watching from the gates of heaven when the third annual Ethan's Rodeo kicks off Friday night.

Four-year-old Ethan Weiman died back in 2009 after a two year battle with Neuroblastoma cancer.

During his treatments, he developed a love of horses and all things rodeo. When he lost his hair, he asked for a red cowboy hat.

And when the Make-A-Wish Foundation came calling, he asked for a horse.

He became a little cowboy during his fight with cancer, but lost his battle with the disease in 2009.

After his death his parents, David and Alicia decided to organize a rodeo to celebrate Ethan's cowboy spirit, while raising money to fight Neuroblastoma, which causes 15 percent of all children's cancer deaths.

"We knew that he would love this event and we wanted to do something that he would love and this was just the perfect fit for him," Alicia Weiman said. "He would have loved going to this event and would have had fun at everything we have there," Alicia said.

Last year more than four thousand people attended the event.

The full rodeo action Friday and Saturday night kicks off at 7:30.

Learn more at Ethan's Rodeo.