Robyn Coffin has gone public with her breast cancer diagnosis.
The Chicago Fire actress, who plays Cindy Herrmann across all thirteen seasons of the NBC drama, launched a verified GoFundMe campaign on Friday, November 13, to help cover the costs of an upcoming partial mastectomy and recovery period. Co-organizer Gianine DeFrancesco joined her in setting up the fundraiser, which carries a $75,000 goal.
Coffin, whose character is married to Captain Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) at Firehouse 51, is scheduled for a right partial mastectomy with magseed localization on December 3. A pre-operative appointment on November 24 will confirm whether that procedure can move forward as planned. Radiation therapy will follow the surgery.
The campaign lays out stark financial realities for working actors. “$40,000 is urgently needed to cover the surgery and hospital bill,” organizers wrote, with the remainder earmarked for insurance gaps, uncovered medications, and income lost during recovery. They noted that Coffin does not get paid when she is not working.
“When Robyn doesn’t work, she doesn’t get paid,” the fundraiser message reads. “Thank goodness they have insurance, but let’s not get cocky — let’s give them a nest egg because we know there will be surprises. The balance is for said surprises: a longer recovery period (see not working), medicine off the plan or not fully covered, or whatever is thrown at them.”
If the partial mastectomy proceeds as scheduled, Coffin anticipates roughly three weeks away from set. However, the campaign warned that a full mastectomy would extend that timeline considerably, calling that surgery “much more extensive.”
“So, Village – thank you in advance for embracing Robyn with love and support,” the message continued. “We’ve got her! Robyn and Grant send you their love and gratitude.” Coffin’s husband, Grant Edmonds, is named alongside her in the campaign.
Support from the Chicago Fire cast arrived quickly. Miranda Rae Mayo, 36, who plays Lieutenant Stella Kidd, shared the fundraiser link on her Instagram Stories with a direct appeal to fans.
“This beautiful and wonderful woman is in need of support. You may know her as Cindy Herrmann on our show. Any and everything helps,” Mayo wrote, adding a heart emoji.
Mayo put money behind her words with a personal donation to the campaign. Fellow Chicago Fire star Hanako Greensmith also contributed financially, though the amounts were not disclosed.
Coffin has appeared in 64 episodes of the firefighter drama since joining the cast. Her character Cindy Herrmann previously faced a major health crisis during Season 11, when she navigated a lung cancer storyline — a narrative that now carries an unintended echo of the actress’s own medical battle.
The GoFundMe remained active as of November 14, with organizers continuing to push toward the full $75,000 target to cushion what they describe as an uncertain recovery road ahead.
Coffin’s surgery is scheduled for December 3 in Chicago.