Jake Brewer, husband of Mary Katharine Ham, tragically killed during charity event

Jake Brewer, a White House staffer and husband of Mary Katharine Ham, was tragically killed this past weekend while participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer charity bicycle event. Brewer, 34, leaves behind a young daughter, Georgia, and another child on the way.

According to the Washington Post, Brewer died in Howard County, Md., around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday when his bicycle went out of control rounding a sharp curve and crossed in front of an oncoming vehicle.

Mary Katharine, whom readers will likely know from Hot Air and Fox News Channel, where she is a frequent contributor, posted the following on Instagram:

We lost our Jake yesterday, and I lost part of my heart and the father of my sweet babies. I don’t have to tell most of you how wonderful he was. It was self-evident. His life was his testimony, and it was powerful and tender and fierce, with an ever-present twinkle in the eye. I will miss him forever, even more than I can know right now. No arms can be her father’s, but my daughter is surrounded by her very favorite people and all the hugs she could imagine. This will change us, but with prayer and love and the strength that is their companion, we can hope our heartache is not in vain– that it will change us and the world in beautiful ways, just as he did. If that sounds too optimistic at this time, it’s because it is. But there was no thought too optimistic for Jake, so take it and run with it. I will strive and pray not to feel I was cheated of many years with him, but cherish the gift of the years I had. In a life where nothing is guaranteed, Jake made the absolute, ever-lovin’ most of his time with all of us. This is a family picture we took a couple weeks ago. It was taken because Jake, as always, was ready with a camera and his immense talent. All four members of our little, growing family are in it. I can never be without him because these babies are half him. They are made of some of the strongest, kindest stuff God had to offer this world. Please pray that he can see us and we’ll all make him proud. God, I love him. Psalm 34:18, Philippians 1:3

A photo posted by Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammertime) on Sep 20, 2015 at 7:25am PDT

J.E. and I were still writing at Hot Air when Mary Katharine migrated over from Townhall. Our hearts go out to her and the entire Brewer family.

Kindly note that a Jake Brewer Memorial Education Fund has been set up at GoFundMe. So far, $139,321 have been collected toward the goal of $200,000.

Mary Katharine has asked that people consider donating to a cause very close to their hearts: The Travis Manion Foundation, which supports families of fallen US servicemen, at   www.TravisManion.org.