In Memoriam - Joe

We are on a brink of golden progress for the game of League of Legends - The 101st champion releases, a long awaited rework on stealth is upcoming, Xin Zhao is becoming manlier, and League has been recognized as the most played PC game in history. Unfortunately, I bring news that is a cold wave to the warm celebration that grips the community today. A fellow summoner has passed away - Joe died June 5th, at 5 p.m. to Ewings Sarcoma.

A few months ago, Riot Games held a skin sale for the Make-a-wish foundation in support of Joe. Starting May 4th, and lasting until May 18th the Jaximus skin was put on sale, and 100% of the revenue was pledged to charity in the name of making wishes come true. This was a huge contribution by Riot, and all in the name of giving back to the community that supported them with their play.

Now who was Joe? Joe was a 17 year-old League of Legends player from Westchester, Pa. With his Father he visited the Riot HQ and got to meet with creators and developers from his favorite gaming company. Joe would play League of Legends as he underwent many forms of treatment for his disease. Not only was it something to pass the time, but it kept Joe close to his friends, and their relationships strong as his will.

At the end of the charity event Riot and its community had raised over 480,000 + dollars. Not only did the generous donation by Riot and the community of League of Legends help Joe, but it now supports thousands of other people just like Joe who suffer from Ewings Sarcoma and other types of cancer. Riot had given Joe one of his semifinal wishes, and their community backed their fellow summoner with thousands of dollars in aiding his treatment and supporting him in the battle against cancer.

Joe's favorite champion in the League of Legends was Jax, the Grandmaster. Riot's tribute to him through the Jaximus sale was a demonstration of kindness and compassion that sets the standard for the definition of a community focused gaming company. But now, in honor of his battle against cancer they have given Jax a unique line on his Jaximus skin - "Here's to you, kid" will be heard as Jax makes his way down lane, and using sheer might, his opposition will fall before him as Joe - with supportive positivity, and brute determination faced his disease with indistinguishable hope that he would prevail.

Though Joe has left us now, he will forever live on in the League of Legends community as a symbol of unwavering hope, and relentless positivity. Through his passing a new bar has been raised on compassion, kindness, generosity, and caring in a gaming comapny and community. Not only did Riot Games initiate the charity to aid Joe, but we summoners raised almost 500,000 dollars in hopes of a total strangers recovery. The selflessness of this community has shown, and it shines bright.

There are genuine people who against all odds can still hold a smile - a bulwark of immovable hope that will live on forever in our hearts. "Here's to you, kid". Rest in peace.

Comments

[Sakura (Aisua)]

R.I.P Joe, you will be missed.

[Kyle (Flucko)]

Thats so righteous of Riot and the LoL community. Things like restore my hope in humanity.