An 81-year-old grandmother is using minecraft As a means to raise money for my grandson's cancer treatment. Since launch in 2011 minecraft It is one of the most culturally significant titles in gaming and the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million units sold across various platforms. Its success spawned a massive franchise that included numerous video game spin-offs and live-action film adaptations. minecraft movie.
minecraft It also received help from social media websites such as YouTube and Twitch, with the former in particular garnering over a trillion views. Even after 15 years on the market, the game still remains one of the most viewed games on both sites, receiving millions of views each year. Its importance extends far beyond its place in the gaming world, as it serves as a teaching tool in fields such as chemistry, computer science, and computer-aided design.
A Minecraft player shows off a glorious build of Hawkins National Laboratory from Stranger Things.
A talented online Minecraft player has recreated Hawkins National Laboratory from Stranger Things in the game.
17-year-old grandson is cancer-free thanks to his grandmother's Minecraft YouTube videos
According to a report by GamesRadar, an 81-year-old woman named Sue Jacquot started a YouTube channel called GrammaCrackers. minecraft She posted the video on October 22, 2025 to help her 17-year-old grandson, Jack Self. Jacquot never considered himself a gamer before last year, but minecraft As a means of connecting with her grandson and his brother Austin Self. She started her YouTube career just a few months after learning the game. It was mainly to help Jack, who was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2024 and had to undergo over 200 rounds of chemotherapy.
Her first video, titled “The BEST START EVER in Minecraft – Part 1,” garnered over 644,000 views in just three months on the platform and amassed over 237,000 subscribers on GrammaCrackers. Each of her videos includes a link to a GoFundMe page for Jack's cancer treatment. The page has currently raised more than $44,000 of its $100,000 goal, not including Jacquot's YouTube revenue. The family was also visited by ABC 15 and Jack said he is cancer-free and is currently in recovery.
Jacquot's journey minecraft It's an incredible feel-good story that demonstrates the power of games to bring others closer together. An 81-year-old grandmother with little prior experience with the medium used. minecraft She tried to connect with her young grandchildren and help them get through a very difficult time. It's a reminder that video games truly are for everyone, and that a medium once derided as a mere childish hobby can do much more than we ever imagined.
Self and Jacquot's story, and the success of these YouTube videos, also reaches an incredibly passionate community. minecraft We've built a way for gamers to come together for a greater purpose. In just a few months, minecraft The fandom encourages families in need and turns scary situations into wholesome, beautiful stories. This is another indicator of its impact. minecraft It is still ongoing, 15 years after its first release.
- released
-
November 18, 2011
- ESRB
-
E10+ for everyone 10+ due to fantasy violence
Source: GamesRadar, ABC 15
