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Death of Nerdfighter Esther Earl, John's friend (2010)

story · status: told 18× · last event: retold (2026-08-03)

Parts: John asks viewers to give to the Friends of Esther Fund for Esther Earl's family (2010)

Told alongside: John asks Nerdfighters to tell someone they love that they love them on Esther Day (2010) · Esther Day: the brothers' annual videos on Esther Earl's birthday about what she chooses (2010) · John asks Nerdfighters to buy This Star Won't Go Out bracelets at DFTBA.com/Esther (2010) · John asks viewers to pre-order This Star Won't Go Out, Esther Earl's book (2013) · Hank invites viewers to donate to This Star Won't Go Out on Esther Day (2012) · This Star Won't Go Out: book of Esther Earl's writings with John's introduction (2013) · LeakyCon 2009 edition · This Star Won't Go Out bracelets sold at DFTBA.com/Esther for the This Star Won't Go Out Foundation (2010)

About: Esther Earl

date event what video
2010-08-27 told John reports that Esther Earl died earlier this week (week of 23 August 2010), aged 16. Rest In Awesome, Esther 00:00:00
2010-10-27 retold John says the bracelets honor Esther Earl, the brothers' friend and fellow Nerdfighter who died a couple of months ago from cancer. You Are Awesome 00:00:42
2011-06-10 retold John says that in the almost ten months since Esther died, more than $10,000 has been raised for This Star Won't Go Out, and thanks Nerdfighteria. Then I Took Off My Bra 00:02:02
2011-08-03 retold Hank says Esther was an awesome Nerdfighter who did amazing things with her friends; she would have turned 17 today had she not died of cancer. I Love My Brother 00:00:00
2013-04-02 retold John tells new Nerdfighters that Esther Earl was a Nerdfighter and friend of his who died of cancer in 2010 at 16. TFiOS Movie Casting, New Books, and Groundhog Wars: An Old School Vlogbrothers Video 00:00:00
2013-08-03 (happened 2010) retold John recalls that Esther, a dear friend and important Nerdfighter, died in 2010 aged sixteen. · also in: John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated Esther Day 2013 00:00:59
2014-01-07 retold John recalls that Esther Earl, the brothers' friend and a Nerdfighter, died of cancer at sixteen. Warm Things for Cold Times 00:00:40
2016-08-03 retold The description says Esther Earl, a Nerdfighter who died in 2010 at 16, asked that her birthday be a day for saying "I love you" to people you love but don't tell enough. Lives Made of Love - Esther Day 2016 video description
2017-02-28 (happened 2010) retold John recalls Esther Earl, a Nerdfighter who with her friends helped run the Project for Awesome behind the scenes and who died of cancer in 2010 at 16. You Are Here 00:00:18
2017-08-03 retold John says Esther died a few weeks later aged just 16, and every year on August 3, her birthday, they pause to celebrate Esther Day, a celebration of love. HAPPY ESTHER DAY!!! 00:00:23
2019-08-03 retold The description says Esther Earl was a Nerdfighter, activist and cool person who died of thyroid cancer in 2010. I Love John: Esther Day 2019 video description
2020-08-03 retold John says Esther died just a few weeks later at 16; she would be in her mid-20s now, and he thinks about her and misses her a lot. you're bundled up now? wait till you get older. 00:00:41
2020-09-29 retold John says Esther has been gone over ten years, but her thoughtfulness and kindness still help him and hold him together. How 'bout Yours? 00:03:04
2021-08-03 (happened 2010) retold Esther died a few weeks after the first Esther Day in 2010, aged 16; her parents then founded This Star Won't Go Out, which gives direct financial support to families of kids with cancer. I L*** Hank 00:00:58
2022-08-03 (happened 2010) retold Hank explains that Esther Earl, an early community member, died of cancer in 2010, and asked how to celebrate her birthday, chose non-romantic love: a Valentine's Day for all other kinds of love. Why is it So Hard to Say 'I Love You'? 00:01:56
2023-08-03 (happened 2010) retold John explains Esther Day: a holiday founded by Esther Earl, a friend and longtime nerdfighter who died of cancer in 2010 at 16, for the love between family and friends. I love you, Hank. Happy Esther Day. 00:00:00
2024-08-03 retold John desperately wishes Esther were here; she would be 30 years old, a grown-up. I Love Hank. (Also I'm back.) 00:02:03
2026-08-03 retold John finds this year (2026) especially strange: Esther has been gone almost 16 years, as long as she lived, and much of his life has passed without her. Esther Day 2026: Some Thoughts on Loss 00:00:00

What is said about it

10 statements, by date (the events above are the turns of the thread; these are the details).