Just months after publicly retiring, Luke Nichols, who ran the popular Outdoor Boys YouTube Channel, has made a comeback – for a very good cause.
Over the weekend, Nichols uploaded a video of himself camping in Alaska on behalf of fellow content creator Steven Smith, who runs the MyLifeOutdoors YouTube channel.
In the collaboration clip uploaded on November 30, titled Camping in Snowstorm With No Tent, No Sleeping Bag, Nichols began: ‘You’re not imagining things.
‘This is not my YouTube channel. Some of you guys may have heard that Steven’s wife was recently diagnosed with cancer.
‘So, right now, Steven’s got a lot on his plate taking care of his wife and his four kids.
‘I thought I might step in and do a little YouTube video for him so he can worry about one thing at a time.’
The outing saw Nichols camp in Alaska with no tent or sleeping bag, where he built a shelter out of a fallen tree and cooked moose stew over a fire as he prepared to hunker down for the evening.
He included various homages to Smith’s typical YouTube style, reviewing outdoor gear and joking about ‘getting a late start,’ which Smith often says in his videos.
On November 30, Luke Nichols (pictured) uploaded a video of himself camping in Alaska on behalf of fellow YouTube creator Steven Smith, who runs the MyLifeOutdoors YouTube channel
Near the end of the segment, Nichols asked fans to support Smith during his family’s tough time by continuing to watch his videos because it would ‘mean a lot to them.’
And viewers were in awe over the sweet act, with over 21,000 comments left underneath with many donating to help out Smith’s family.
‘The GOAT came out of retirement to help a friend. What a legend,’ one user wrote.
‘What a freakin legend. Came out of retirement to support a friend in need. I’m not crying, you’re crying,’ another shared.
‘This is seriously the coolest freaking thing I’ve ever seen someone do on YouTube. Brings me to tears you did this for your friend. Thanks for leaving your mark on YouTube, Luke!’ a third commented.
Last month, Smith revealed his wife Celesta’s diagnosis in an emotional video, explaining that it had begun with Thyroid cancer and her undergoing thyroid removal surgery.
A few months later, she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer.
After undergoing an MRI to see how extensive the cancer was, they found it had spread to her lymph nodes.
Last month, Smith revealed wife Celesta’s diagnosis, which started with a Thyroid cancer diagnosis and her undergoing thyroid removal surgery in April
Nichols, who retired from his own outdoors channel in May, said he wanted his friend to only ‘worry about one thing at a time’
‘We’re now in the middle of a pretty lengthy and involved treatment to cure her cancer and save her life,’ he explained.
Celesta will undergo 22 weeks of chemotherapy and will undergo a mastectomy after her treatment concludes in April next year.
Nichols, who had almost 15 million followers on his channel, shocked his fans when he stepped away from his popular vlog just months ago.
The outdoorsman rose to fame by showcasing his outdoor adventures like camping and fishing – as well as sharing survival skills and exploration.
However, the father-of-three explained he was stepping away from making content ‘for a little while’ to spend more time with his family.
In the video – aptly titled Goodbye – the creator explained he has gained almost 12 million of his followers in the past 18 months alone, adding that the sudden rise to fame was difficult on his personal life.
‘It’s been a wild ride,’ Nichols explained in the video.
‘The amount of time and energy that I’ve dedicated to making YouTube videos is hard to communicate,’ he continued.
‘So many late nights editing and packing and unpacking camping with pneumonia building log cabins while injured, but it’s been a tremendous adventure and it’s allowed me to provide for my family while making wonderful memories with my wife and kids,’ the outdoorsman said.
Despite the enjoyment he has achieved from making content, the thrill seeker admitted that ‘even good things can be taken too far.’
Nichols went on to explain that the public attention he and his sons, Tommy, Nathan and Jacob, and wife Rebecca, now receive is ‘overwhelming,’ and they have ‘real concern’ about what the fame could do to their family.
‘I think I’m starting to reach that point,’ he added. ‘I’ve spent so much time focusing on me and my family and growing my business, it’s time to step back and focus on helping other people for a change and I’m excited to see where that takes me,’ he said.