Dearest Friends:

My friend and college roommate, Molly Kellogg, called Jobie my "darling daughter" when she texted me after Jobie died. It was so true. I loved her deeply, with all of my heart. Jobie was always one to hug people the longest, notice when someone was down, and jump into challenges without fear. Sometimes we really annoyed each other -- REALLY -- but that was part of our love. I miss her so much it frightens me.

Jobie died of a high grade brain tumor on August 11th, 2023. She was 22 years old and she remained dignified as she faced her illness and imminent death. She couldn't believe what was happening to her, but she didn't complain about her discomfort or the unfairness of it all.

I am riding the PAN-MASS Challenge on the second day -- about 79 miles but possibly truncated a bit. I will ride with my husband, John Hereford, our son, Niko, many of our very dear friends, and a couple of Jobie's friends who we have now appropriated as our friends.

The money we raise will be put toward a study John and I launched about two years ago at Dana Farber (The Jobie Project) to find treatments/cures for high-grade brain tumors like Jobie's using CRISPR. Already, the funding and the research has reaped more than we expected. The team at Dana Farber has been able isolate several mutations for the first time. The next step is testing a variety of drugs to see if they have an effect on the mutations. Another Jobie Project study at UCSF has isolated several of the mutations in mice and we will be testing drugs there too.

Some of you have already expressed interest in giving. Some of you have already given to some aspect of the Jobie Project or directly to Planned Parenthood or the Ronald McDonald House. If you have already given, please don't feel like you have to give again.

With love and thanks AND to my darling daughter, wherever she is right now.

Andrea