The donation, which should be about $17,000, will go toward training at the Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson Regional Cancer Center, according to Jill Steckbauer, senior philanthropy officer for the foundation.

Steckbauer, who has been a member of the group for the past three years, made the presentation emphasizing that the clinic is now open and once training is complete, area residents will have access to about 248 different trials that are taking place at different facilities within the Marshfield system. It will save patients in travel time and expenses to Marshfield or other cancer centers in the system.

She added that most clinical trials and research are funded mostly through philanthropy.

This funding will go toward an oncology pharmacist, who must receive training specific for cancer drug protocols. The training is needed because a lot of the medicine is experimental, she explained.

Jill Steckbauer, senior philanthropy officer for the Marshfield Clinic Foundation, gives a presentation at the first Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care meeting of 2026. They were selected to receive the group's donation for the quarter. (Submitted photo)

“Once you get staff trained, patients have access to those trial matching them. That’s why the staff is important,” she said.

Construction on the cancer center was completed in 2024, adding 8,000 square feet of new space. The expansion was built on the hospital’s east side, where radiation/oncology was already located. It includes five exam rooms, one procedure room, a private gowned waiting area for radiation patients, shared consult and conference area and workspace for providers and other staff. There are also 11 private infusion rooms and one shared suit.

The 100-Plus Women meet four times a year. The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, May 11, at Pine Grove Country Club. At each meeting three 501(c)(3) non-profits are randomly selected and invited to give a presentation to the group and answer questions. Once a winner is selected, members give $100, either as an individual donation or from groups of up to four people.

Since its inception, the Dickinson County 100-Plus Women Who Care has donated more than $840,000 through 40 meetings.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.