ONLY 22 when she died, Niamh Jobson’s hope that her suffering would one day help others is being honoured through the initiative of her grieving brother Finn, the rest of her family and loyal friends.
Still raw from losing his sister in January, Finn has dedicated himself to achieving Niamh’s selfless wish to help others suffering from osteosarcoma, a particularly vicious bone cancer which mostly affects children and young adults under 20.
Despite fighting the disease for more than seven years and even persevering with her flourishing music career after her leg was amputated, Niamh died just days short of her 23rd birthday.
Only 24 out of every 100 people are alive five years after a diagnosis of metastatic osteosarcoma, yet treatment options have remained largely unchanged for 50 years.
In honour of Niamh, however, a dedicated osteosarcoma fund has now been set up. Established within the Bone Cancer Research Trust, the fund’s sole purpose is to help drive progress in treatment options and to create a better future for others diagnosed with this devastating illness.
Steering its inception is 20-year-old Finn who is working hard to make the launch night a highlight of the Scottish gig scene. He hopes its success will lead to more such events and help grow the fund while also paying tribute to Niamh’s gift for music.
He told the Sunday National the fundraising was actually Niamh’s idea.
“She never complained but she thought we need to sort this out and give other people a chance,” he said. “She thought if it couldn’t be her, then something had to be done for other people as the treatment is brutal and has not been advanced for far too long.
“Our mission is to change the whole awareness of osteosarcoma as we want to see some advancements in research to give young people the chance at life that they deserve.”
Finn said it was Niamh’s personality that was keeping him going through his devastation.
“If I did not turn the grief into a positive thing then I can literally hear Niamh telling me to shut up, stop moping around and start getting things done. It is Niamh that is keeping us all going.”
As a tribute to her career as a DJ, the launch party is being held at SWG3 in Glasgow on June 28 at the venue’s Warehouse and Garden Terrace, featuring sets from Kairogen, Danny Greenman, Timescape, VXYX, Harry Mawby and LAZLO – a line-up of artists who played with Niamh, knew her well and were inspired by her sound and spirit.
Finn said Niamh, who grew up on the Isle of Eigg, had always had a great interest in music, learning to play the piano, double bass, fiddle, guitar and bass guitar. She was the first person to do a music production course at high school in Mallaig and played gigs with traditional bands before moving into techno.
She first cut her teeth in this genre at the revered Sub Club in Glasgow, later making her debut at Subculture and performing solo and back-to-back at Slam’s Return to Mono residency.
Despite enduring multiple rounds of intense chemotherapy and the eventual loss of her left leg, she remained dedicated to her craft – performing, producing, and co-hosting the acclaimed Dub Series radio show with close friend and fellow DJ Kairogen.
Finn said she kept going through excruciating pain and the indignities of her treatment through sheer will and determination.
“She just took extra painkillers to get through her sets. She was amazing,” Finn said.
He hopes that at least 200 or 250 people will turn up at the launch venue which has a capacity of 500. The aim is to turn it into a series of gigs that will continue to raise much-needed money for the fund.
“Creating this fund and launching it in a very ‘Niamh’ manner, we will be able to assist her dream of helping kids in this position get another chance at life, while also pushing her unique underground club techno sound to the people of Glasgow,” said Finn.
He is being supported by the rest of his family and friends.
The sibling’s father Jonny said: “Niamh was, and continues to be, an inspiration to so many who knew her. Throughout everything she had to face, from 10 months of chemo and the removal of her thigh bone and her knee joint when she was just 17, to losing her leg entirely in 2023, she never complained, never asked ‘why me’ and never gave up fighting for her dreams.
“She forged herself a career as a DJ, she completed her sound engineering degree and passed her driving test all while facing continuous setbacks and agonies.
“Through this fund, her devastated family hope that her suffering will not be in vain and that other young people be spared the indignities, pain and suffering that Niamh bore with such defiance and bravery.”
A spokesperson for the Bone Cancer Research Trust said: “Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Jobson family who will be supporting vital research in memory of their much-loved Niamh.
“Through the Niamh Jobson Research Fund, a special fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust, Niamh’s loved ones will honour her wish of improving treatments and outcomes for others.”
Tickets for the June 28 launch at Glasgow’s SWG3 are are available through Skiddle and Resident Advisor.
They are priced at what you can afford – £10.50, £15.50 or £20.50.
