Hill's charity hits $1M in donations

— -- CINCINNATI -- A cancer charity backed by Ohio college basketball player Lauren Hill has used a final push to reach her goal of $1 million in donations by the end of the year.

She reached her goal just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, and as of 6:15 p.m., the charity called The Cure Starts Now had raised $1,113,419.

"It's amazing," Hill said after reaching her $1 million goal. "To reach it this fast and to have so many people that care enough to donate. Thanks everybody that is here. Thank you everybody that donated and that are still donating. And I hope that donations don't stop with this. Keep on donating to research and keep on helping."

Hill got national attention when she played in a Division III basketball game with Mount St. Joseph on Nov. 2 despite suffering from an inoperable brain tumor diagnosed a year ago. She made layups for the first and last baskets of the game.

Hill is a 19-year-old freshman. She has since the November game helped raise more than $775,000 for cancer research and treatment through The Cure Starts Now.

"It is so incredibly rare to have such a selfless young lady who has engaged a nation to work together to reach such a vital goal as funding research for the home run cure to all cancers. Lauren has done it with poise and resolve," said Brooke Desserich, the charity's founder and executive director.

The charity, which said a telethon helped Hill reach her goal, took to Twitter to hail the $1 million mark and thank donors Tuesday:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.