Esther Grace Earl † (August 3, 1994 - August 25, 2010 [aged 16]), was an American YouTuber. In November 2006 she was diagnosed with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer and had already developed extensive tumors in her lungs. A dedicated Nerdfighter and Potterhead, she began making YouTube videos in late 2008 under the name 'cookie4monster4'. Esther Earl once brought the entire Nerdfighter community together to win $250,000 for the Harry Potter Alliance, a group who are dedicated to fighting for social justice.
Only 22 days after her 16th birthday, she died from her cancer.
After her death, the This Star Won't Go Out foundation was created by her family in her honor to financially help other young people struggling with cancer. In 2012, John Green, author, and one-half of the vlogbrothers published his book The Fault in our Stars which was somewhat inspired by Esther's life.
Every year on Esther's birthday, August 3, people across the world participate in Esther day. Esther day is a celebration of Esther's life and, as Esther requested, love and family.
A book remembering Esther's life, also entitled This Star Won't Go Out was published on 28 January 2014. The book contains Esther's personal writings, drawings as well as commentary and essays by family and friends.
In one of John Green's videos, he references the bracelets sold to raise money for TSWGO, and says, "This Star Won't Go Out, and it won't, we won't let it."