As many of you know by now, Gary Jobson has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Details follow in the report from Gary himself.
(Suggestion from Caleb Tarleton: If you would like to send an e-mail or card to Gary, it would be great. The next 6-8 months are going to be very tough for Gary, and the most important thing is for him to keep a positive attitude. Nothing maudlin, but more light and airy. And keep it up. Not just for the next few weeks, but for the next year.
Gary has positively affected a great number of people in our sport. This is our chance to show him our support.)
Gary's e-mail is listed below and cards should go to
Jobson Sailing
9 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
E-mail is: GaryJobson@cs.com
Kathy in his office will see to it that everything gets to Gary. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
This is the news release filed by Gary Jobson about his illness:
Before heading to the America's Cup in Auckland I developed an annoying cough. During my time covering the America's Cup I became quite fatigued between our ESPN shows. After returning from Auckland I set out on an ambitious lecture tour. To date I have given 26 presentations all around the USA. Most of the audiences were capacity crowds. The questions on the America's Cup were fascinating and insightful. Clearly people who care about the sport followed the Cup closely.
As my lecture tour progressed, however, I became increasingly fatigued and the cough did not go away. With the assistance of an inhaler and rest on either side of my programs, I was able to speak. In the last ten days things turned for the worse.
Last week I started a series of tests that included a CT scan, a lymph node biopsy and a variety of other procedures. For me, it is difficult to walk and I am out of breath all the time.
For the first time in my 30 year speaking career I have been forced to cancel presentations.
Yesterday I was diagnosed with lymphoma, which is ironic since I have been chairman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's regatta series for the past 11 years. I have been advised not to schedule any activities for the next two months.
I will be receiving chemotherapy for the next six to eight months to battle back from this disease. I am going to be in a quiet period now for the next ten days. Apparently the treatments are hard.
Sorry to give you this report. My spirits are good. I hope to be around the waterfront later this summer.
Gary Jobson
(Note: Caleb Tarleton also told me that Gary is really a class act. He was in the Seattle area to give a talk to a group of sailing kids. He was not feeling well and had to rest backstage, but when he came out, he talked for two hours straight.)