Gary Jobson - "Sailing is the Icing of Life!"

Gary Jobson explains how lessons he learned while sailing helped in his fight against cancer.
Photo by Amy Thurman
 
The 2011 St. Joseph's/Candler Leukemia Cup Kick Off Party, was held at Savannah Yacht Club (SYC) on Wednesday, May 18th. Gary Jobson, world-class sailor, commentator, author, cancer advocate and survivor, and National Chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Leukemia Cup Regatta shared his story and signed copies of his books.

Photo provided by St. Joseph's Candler

Savannah's St. Joseph's/Candler Leukemia Cup is the second most successful in the country having raised $3.2 million to date. Each year, St. Joseph's/Candler chooses a child recipient as its honored patient. This year Madison, age 5, will take center stage. As stated on the Leukemia Cup website, "Honored Heroes are special volunteers for our Weekend of Events. Those diagnosed with a blood cancer are survivors from the day of diagnosis forward. Survivors are heroes. It is our privilege to know and celebrate our Honored Hero, Madison."
Jobson averages 15 events like this annually and has made over 2,000 appearances in his career. He's written 17 books, including his newest, An American Sailing Story, a memoir. Jobson states, "I don't go half way with anything."

It has been noted on numerous occasions that one of Jobson's areas of expertise is the dying art form of story telling. The audience who attended the kick off would undoubtedly attest to the truth of his craft. As soon as Jobson spoke, his enthusiastic speaking approach not only elicited laughter but also engaged the group as he shared his captivating life experiences and the message that living should be fought for, especially when faced with a life threatening disease.

"Sailing is the icing of life!" he stated. "It's a sport that connects generations."

Jobson shared several lessons he learned from sailing and how those lessons have shaped his approach to his own diagnosis with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In conclusion he said, "30 years from now, when you're sailing with a team of 20-year- olds, you will benefit from this event."
When asked how he came to choose this group of cancers, Jobson stated, "By chance." In 1993, LLS approached him and asked him to chair The Leukemia Cup Regatta. He said he'd give them three years. Since then, Jobson has helped raise over $40 million dollars for the cause. In Savannah alone the Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised $3.2 million dollars to date with a $300,000 goal for the 2011 Cup.
"The greatest gift of life is to give back and help someone else. And when you help someone else out, it just may be you who needs it in the end." ~Gary Jobson; Sailor, Cancer Survivor.
2011 St. Joseph's/Candler Leukemia Cup Sailing Committee pictured with Gary Jobson.Back Row L-R: Olin and Sharon McIntosh, Henry Morgan, Ruthie Seese, Schley Knight, 2011 National Chairman Gary Jobson, 2011 Weekend of Events Chairman Hunter Saussy. Front Row L-R: Dana Whitfield, Colleen Bremer, 2011 Sailing Chairman Billy Bremer, Christine Compton.
Not pictured: Louisa Hightower, Steve McCarthy
Photo by Amy Thurman

The 2011 LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA
Schedule of Events - Get involved!



September 3, 8 a.m. Run for Jane - 5K Run/Walk - Fort Pulaski
September 19, 1 p.m. Leukemia Cup Golf Invitational - Savannah Golf Club
September 23, 6 pm - Spirit of the Sea Black-Tie Dinner and Auction - SYC
September 24,
Leukemia Cup Tennis Classic (warm-ups at 8:30 a.m.)
St. Joseph's/Candler Leukemia Cup Regatta (registration at 9 a.m.)
Leukemia Cup In-Shore Fishing Tournament and Junior Fishing Tournament
(fish Friday or Saturday, weigh in at 4:30 p.m.)
For more information:
www.leukemiacup.org/ga
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
Or contact Dana Whitfield at dana.whitfield@lls.org (912) 352-4334