HUNTERSVILLE -- Ocular melanoma occurs in five out of every 1 million people a year, but the town of Huntersville has had 12 cases in the last decade.

Monday night, officials approved two proposals to study of this disease.

The two proposals approved tonight will research both environmental and genetic factors for ocular melanoma.

This comes after some researchers say their tests can't prove if any one chemical causes for the cancer, so Monday's vote moves this community one step closer to figuring out what could be causing this disease

For Sue Colbert, spring is a tough time for her family. This May marks three years since her daughter, Kenan died from a rare form of cancer called ocular melanoma. She was just 28 years old.

 “Anniversaries are always very difficult for us, we miss her so much as you can imagine, it's always hard,” she said.

Colbert's daughter is one of 12 cases in Huntersville over the past decade, and since her daughter's passing, Colbert and family have been fighting for answers. Soon they could be getting some.

Huntersville town commissioners approved two proposals Monday night, studying environmental and genetic factors, thanks to a 100,000 grant.

Town officials will spend about 15,000  for a geospatial study

They'll also spend another 58,000 for genetic testing with current patients and examining tissues from those who passed away like Kenan.

 “We're definitely on board for the genetic testing, you know we do want to look within our own families and see if there is a reason why,” said Colbert

Once research is complete, town officials say they'll use the remaining grant funding and this information as road map for soil testing. And while they still have lots of questions, Colbert says she's hopefully they'll have some answers soon.

“And if we can find a cause, then that gives us hope that there might be a cure and then we wouldn't lose anyone else to this awful eye cancer.”

The mayor says some of the work has already started, and they should have some final reports to share with the community by the end of this year.