Twitter Helps Connect Eminem With Terminally Ill Fan

Armchair critics of social-media activism are quick to dismiss hashtag-based campaigns as little more than empty self-reassurance, but then something heartwarming happens — like Eminem (Marshall Mathers) meeting up with a terminally ill fan whose one wish was to meet the rap idol — and it's hard to stay cynical about the entire thing for too long.

US teenager Gage Garmo was given a frighteningly short time to live — a week — following a lengthy battle with a rare form of bone cancer, so, knowing that it was the hip hop fan's dream to meet the real Slim Shady, his nearest and dearest mobilised into an online force to flag Eminem's attention and get him to meet with his ailing young fan.

Following the wave of momentum behind the hashtag #GetGageGarmoToMeetEminem, it would seem Garmo's supporters have been successful in their attempts to connect him with his musical hero. Although Mathers himself hasn't made a big deal about it in public, long-time offsider Royce Da 5'9" confirmed that the meeting had taken place via Instagram and Twitter last night. 

At the time of writing, reports from community members have just started filtering in via Twitter that Garmo has passed away, though they are as yet unconfirmed by his family.