YouTuber inspired by lifelong friend YaYa

Adam McIntyre was lifelong friends with Alexandra Johnston, who passed away just days after celebrating her 16th birthday in 2018.

Alexandra, affectionately known as ‘YaYa,’ had battled the rare cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma for five years and won the hearts of thousands of people at home and abroad as she documented her journey on social media.

Adam and Alexandra attended the same primary school and their friendship grew over the years, thanks to sharing many of the same hobbies and interests.

Adam, who is now 17 and in the second year of a media course at North West Regional College, was there throughout Alexandra’s cancer battle.

“We were both really young when she was first diagnosed and I had never been through any of that before. I was always trying to protect her, look after her and make sure she was happy and not dwelling on it.”

Adam said they would have stayed up all night playing video games together or listening to music via Skype as their friendship grew.

The teen started his own YouTube channel in 2010 and it now has over 20 million views. “I was still in primary school when I started it, so my entire childhood has been online and people can look back at the videos and see me growing up.”

Alexandra, who appeared in some of the videos, left Adam around 100 letters and one of them was for him to open when he reached 100,000 subscribers.

“Alexandra gave me the letters in 2015, shortly after she relapsed and had gone back into treatment. I only had a couple of hundred subscribers at the time so I laughed when I saw it. She told me the reason she did the letter was she always wanted to congratulate me even if she wasn’t around. She always cared about everyone around her, which is the most amazing thing.

“I would have loved Alexandra to see me get this many subscribers, but I just keep telling myself that she always believed in me from the start.”

Adam hit 100,000 subscribers recently and opened the letter live on YouTube. He also asked his follower to donate to the charity set up in Alexandra’s memory if they were in a position to do so. Just Keep Swimming YaYa was set up to support local families impacted or bereaved as a result of childhood cancer. The charity also provides particular help and support to fathers of children impacted by cancer, something which Alexandra recognised was needed.

Adam said hitting 100.000 subscribers was a ‘big deal’ for him and he knew his audience would tune in to watch the video of him celebrating.

“I opened the letter on camera and it was a really emotional, special moment, not only because I didn’t know what was in it but because I had reached this milestone. I told my audience about Alexandra and it was so rewarding and sweet that the audience wanted to donate. We raised over £1,000 for the charity.

“Alexandra said that she always knew it was going to happen and said she was so proud of me. She also made a joke about me getting her Harry Styles number!”

Adam met up with Alexandra’s parents, Karen and Andre Johnston, to present them with the donation last month.

“Meeting up with Alexandra’s parents again after such a long time was lovely, they were so grateful and appreciative for the donation. I was just so proud that my audience really cared and wanted to support the charity.”

To watch Adam’s videos visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamMcIntyre5