Mike, Annie, my parents, and myself all converged on San Francisco this weekend in honor of Jackie! For the fourth year in a row, we were a part of her team walking to raise money for the National Brain Tumor Society.

Turk is Toast
Turk the Tumor is Toast

Family and friends of Jackie! came in from all over. The kids had a blast playing together.

Annie shows Jake how to pick and throw grass
Annie showed Jake how to pick and throw grass like an expert

After snacks and beverages it was time to walk. Everyone donned their costumes – toast-shaped hats for the adults, superhero capes for the kids.

Team Toast
Dana, Jake, Annie, Mike

Jackie! and her parents are creative and positive all the time – as if these hats and capes didn’t make that obvious.

It was a gorgeous day in San Francisco, unseasonably perfect. A wonderful day to walk, celebrate, and support Jackie! and everyone else affected by brain tumors.

Annie and Jake in their smooth rides

Team Toast walks for Jackie!

off roadin'

Jackie!’s team came in first place for fundraising, with a total of almost $70k. She was called up in front of the entire walk to give an acceptance speech.

Jackie! speaks to the crowd

Jackie!'s acceptance speech of awesome

She rocked her toast hat and rocked her speech, too.

We spent the rest of the weekend with Jackie!. I’m soaking up my time with her, trying not to annoy her too much (sorry Jackie!, I just really like hanging out with you). I know she hates words like “strong” and “inspirational” so I won’t use those. Instead I’ll just brag that she’s raised so much money for brain tumor research that the National Brain Tumor Society named a Chair of Research in her honor: the Jacqueline Oswold Chair in Systems Biology. She is amazing.