Legacy funds

Amy Lessack Fund

This fund was inspired by Amy Lessack in February 2021, a Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) advocate, board member, joy generator, community-builder, and longtime supporter. In the weeks before she passed away from metastatic breast cancer (MBC), Amy approached LBBC with a request to honor her sister, Abby, who was Amy’s primary caregiver. Amy wanted to recognize that Abby ensured she lived out her life with dignity and grace. Amy’s wish with this fund is to celebrate and elevate the silent contributions of caregivers like her sister, whose stories are often left untold, and to support MBC community patients and caregivers as a whole.

Cis B. Golder Quality of Life Fund

This fund, which is part of the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund, honors Cis, who served as a dedicated volunteer for LBBC for more than a decade. She was diagnosed with breast cancer three times. Despite the toll breast cancer took on her life, Cis remained positive and passionate about helping others. She especially cared about families without the means to get the help they need during breast cancer treatment. When Cis passed away in May 2006, her family, friends, and LBBC created this financial assistance grant program to carry on her legacy.

Lynda Gross Guardian Angel Fund

This fund, established by Lynda’s husband Larry and his two daughters, provides travel grants for people living with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers to attend LBBC’s Annual Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer. Lynda and Larry benefited from attending the conference and participating in educational webinars to help them better understand the complexity of breast cancer, keep up to date on new treatments and clinical trials, and find a community of support.

When Lynda registered for the conference, she also paid for “guardian angel” registrations to help those who could not afford the fee. In that spirit, the family named the fund the “Lynda Gross Guardian Angel Fund” to help ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing critical information and support.

Michelle Avery Legacy Fund

This fund was established by Jim, Michelle’s husband, and her three adult children.

For 11 years, Jim was an extraordinary caregiver — ensuring Michelle lived life to the fullest when she felt well and provided unwavering support when she needed care.

Michelle lived with MBC for so long in part because she was informed and empowered. Information and empowerment are exactly what the Michelle Avery Legacy Fund provides, through travel grants and fee waivers for individuals living with MBC — and their caregivers — to attend LBBC’s Annual Conference on Metastatic Breast Cancer. This conference brings together leading oncologists and experts to provide the latest information about treatment options, clinical trials, and ways to improve quality of life.

Rebecca Stemplewicz Memorial Fund

Despite her diagnosis of MBC at a young age, Rebecca never let her diagnosis define her. Rather, she identified as a woman, mother, wife, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, adventurer, and friend. Rebecca taught us to be honest, brave, compassionate, and tolerant. She was keenly aware that not everyone would have the same strong support network that blessed her. This fund, which is administered through the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Fund, honors Rebecca’s wish to provide direct financial support to people in treatment for breast cancer who are facing financial hardship.

Susan Searing Swanson Patient Advocacy Fund

This fund honors Susan. After her diagnosis of MBC, Susan became one of LBBC’s most active representatives as a leadership volunteer, board member, speaker, and webinar moderator.

Susan was a committed patient advocate whose efforts informed public and private policies, research, and programming within the medical and pharmaceutical arenas. Her advocacy efforts helped others understand clinical trial and treatment options and created a community of hope and courage for others with MBC.

The Susan Searing Swanson Patient Advocacy Fund was established by her husband, Marty Swanson, and sisters, Jill Searing and Lisbeth Searing. The fund provides scholarship opportunities for MBC patients’ attendance at national conferences and advocacy events. Further, it supports the Hear My Voice Metastatic Breast Cancer Advocacy and Training Program. These opportunities continue Susan’s efforts to educate, advocate, and inspire the many others living with MBC.