Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund's Fundraising Page

Suzanne Michels Obenshain was 42 years old in February of 2019.  She was successful professionally, happily married to her husband of 14 years, and the beloved mother of three young children.  Her world came crashing down around her when she visited her doctor about a swollen lymph node and received a diagnosis that no young mother should ever have to hear:  Stage IV Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Over the next year and a half Suzanne and Andrew threw themselves into beating the unbeatable, but there were no treatments available that were able stop her cancer.  She passed away on September 25, 2020 surrounded by her family in her home in Waban, MA.  

While incredible strides have been made in the battle against some types of Breast Cancer over the past few decades, Triple Negative Breast Cancer remains an aggressive subtype with a very poor prognosis.  Triple Negative Breast Cancer accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancers, but accounts for approximately 30% of all breast cancer deaths and often strikes young women.   The term Triple Negative Breast Cancer means that the the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth are not present. Therefore, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target HER-2 are ineffective.  Triple Negative is the "all other group" of breast cancers for which durable, targeted therapies are not available, especially in metastatic disease.  

Basic research is desperately needed to better understand subtypes of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and to provide durable treatment options.  Suzanne received cutting edge treatment from two of the leading cancer centers in the world and still died far too soon.  Suzanne strongly believed that research dollars needed to be focused on understanding the basic biology of the disease so that women did not have to receive a diagnosis for which the only treatment options are blunt chemotherapy with unpredictable results.  

 Together with Dana Farber, we are launching the Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research to someday give young mothers with a diagnosis like Suzanne's the opportunity to see their children graduate from high school.   90% of the funds raised will go directly to the type of Triple Negative Breast Cancer research that Suzanne and Andrew both believe is needed to make real strides in the treatment of this disease.   If we raise over $500,000 a permanent endowment will be established in Suzanne's name at Dana Farber.  

Suzanne was a strong and determined woman who fought Triple Negative Breast cancer with every ounce of her being until the day that she died.  Your donation to this endowment will carry this fight forward in her name.   Suzanne wouldn't have it any other way.  

Please feel free to reach out to Meghan Sherwood at meghan.m.sherwood@gmail.com with any questions.  

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Donations paid by credit card: to the Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research can be made via credit card by clicking on the "GIVE" button above the "Progress to Goal" banner or under the "Page Supporters" banner at the bottom of the page.  Please mention the Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund in the note on the checkout page to assure that the funds are  allocated correctly.

Donations paid by check, should be made out to "Dana-Farber Cancer Institute" and have "Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund" in the memo on your check (if this specification is not made, the funds will not be put towards this fund, if you also notify Meghan Sherwood at Meghan.m.sherwood@gmail.com she can ensure that your donation went to the right place) and can be mailed to:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Attn: Mariah Fitzgerald (Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund)

P.0.Box 849168

Boston, MA 02284-9168

Donations made by domestic wire transfer:  Please contact Mariah Fitzgerald at MariahE_Fitzgerald@dfci.harvard.edu and Meghan Sherwood at Meghan.m.sherwood@gmail.com for assistance in making your gift.  

​Donations made from Donor Advised Funds:  Dana-Farber's tax ID number is 04-2263040.  Please contact Mariah Fitzgerald at MariahE_Fitzgerald@dfci.harvard.edu and Meghan Sherwood at meghan.m.sherwood@gmail.com  for assistance making your gift. 

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Feel free to reach out to Meghan Sherwood at Meghan.m.sherwood@gmail.com to confirm that your donation was allocated to the Suzanne Michels Obenshain Fund for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  She can also provide information for international wire transfers or for ACH transfers upon request.  

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Suzanne's full obituary can be found at:

https://www.chadwickfuneralservice.com/obituary/suzanne-obenshain