We humbly ask for your help as Bryn continues to fight her cancer diagnosis. To many of you in the community Bryn needs no introduction.

For 28 years, to the students, staff and parents of Dominican High School, she has been an endless source of kindness, wicked smarts, and energy for students, friends and colleagues alike. To her stage crew, she has been a big sister who keeps the show on track while truly mentoring them with life skills they never knew they needed. To staff and administration, she has been an irreplaceable on-call tech director who understands Dominican’s theater inside and out. Without fail, Bryn makes everything happen, often on short notice, and not just that: she makes it look good.

With a twinkle in her eye and a mischievous smile, Bryn has been the loudest cheerleader for those who need a lift and has really entered into many a student's corner over the years.

Now it is time for us to be in her corner.

Not one to ask for help, Bryn shared some tough news last year that she has been diagnosed with what she has creatively referred to as a “unicorn cancer” given its rarity. The cancer, High-Grade Primary Angiosarcoma of the Breast, is not only extremely rare, but also very aggressive. After this diagnosis, Bryn endured a whirlwind of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in the Spring of 2024. A short remission followed, but cancer again showed up in her lungs in a routine scan this June. Bryn started a 2nd chemotherapy, and another scan in August showed doctors that she needs to continue treatment indefinitely.

Bryn is facing a tremendous financial burden to cover treatment costs.

The burden of a cancer diagnosis is multifaceted. There is the need to summon the emotional and spiritual energy to contend with treatment and the after effects, the cure many times more disruptive than the cancer itself. There is also the struggle of financing this extensive and expensive medical care. Health insurance only covers a portion of what a complete treatment–multiple chemotherapy infusions, a multi-stage surgery plan and several radiation treatments–involves. Bryn, who has stayed strong and committed to her job in spite of many downturns, cannot work for a period of time during treatment and recovery, which adds to that financial burden. Contributing to this financial stress, Bryn’s husband, Marty is also recovering from two 2023 knee surgeries. The VanBeeks are still paying bills for those procedures.

Additionally, school expenses for her teenaged boys will need to be covered if she is not able to return to work full time.

Finally, changes in Bryn’s employee insurance have left her responsible for the employer part of her insurance until she returns to work full time.

With your support, the funds raised through this Gofundme page will help lessen a bit of the financial anxiety, helping Bryn and her family to focus on what is right in front of them. As you likely know, it can be hard to fully heal when stresses and anxieties layer on top of the already-taxing physical symptoms.

⭐ Let’s be there for Bryn. Let’s pitch in whatever we can so that she can concentrate on what matters most in real time. Please share far and wide to help make the most impact.

*One hundred percent of all proceeds will be donated to the VanBeek family and are considered gifts that are not tax deductible.