Community Holds Benefit to Help Westfield Mom Fight Pancreatic Cancer

It's been a long road for mother of five Mandy O'Sullivan, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. 

That's why her friends and neighbors are hoping for a large turnout at an event to help O'Sullivan, the mother of four grads and one current student. Her friends, neighbors and family have pulled together a benefit at on Friday, Dec. 16th, to help pay for her medical bills and raise awareness about pancreatic cancer.

"We continue to hope for a full recovery and won't ever quit fighting this long, hard fight," O'Sullivan's family wrote on an invitation to the community.

So far, the response has been excellent. As of Thursday night, nearly 250 people had already RSVP'd yes to attend the event, and dozens had signed up to volunteer. The benefit was originally slated to take place at Centreville fire station 17, but had to be moved due to the response. From start to finish, all of this was pulled together in 10 days, said her sister, Laura Christie, a 13-year Centreville resident. 

That's a testimony to O'Sullivan's active presence at, where she taught religion. O'Sullivan's children have also been active in lacrosse at the high school and college level. Lacrosse parents, alumni and players have also pulled together to donate food, collect silent auction items and otherwise help with the benefit, said Christie. 

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature music, a silent auction and a raffle. Click here to see more details about the event and other ways to help. Ninety percent of the proceeds will fund O'Sullivan's unpaid medical bills and her treatment at Natural Horizons, a holistic wellness center in Fairfax. The hope is that therapy from the center, which is not funded by the O'Sullivans' insurance, will help strengthen her immune system to fight cancer cells.  

Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to pancreatic cancer research. This particular form of cancer—called "the silent killer" because of its lack of symptoms—is often advanced when it is found. That's why O'Sullivan and her husband P.J., who have lived in Centreville for the last eight years, hope that the news about the benefit might make a difference in someone else's life, as well as their own.

“She feels that maybe she could reach somebody out there who has a similar struggle," said Christie. 

"She could help out someone  and not ever know it,” she added.