Pain to Purpose: How a Mastectomy Led to a Life-Changing Ford Device

Ford’s 'SupportBelt' is a groundbreaking solution developed for the 100k+ women and men who undergo mastectomies each year. 

For these individuals, the pressure of wearing a seatbelt tightly fastened across their chests can be extremely painful. The pain is often so acute that they sacrifice safety or stop driving altogether. 

Lynn Simoncini, a creative director at VML (Ford's marketing partner) who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, faced this very challenge after her double mastectomy. Frustrated with the lack of available solutions, she turned to her passion for Ford and, with the support of Ford experience design director, Emily Obert, the SupportBelt was conceptualised. 

The SupportBelt is a discreet, contoured belt made with volatile organic compound foam wrapped in recycled plastic fabric that wraps around a regular seat belt, relieving pressure and reducing discomfort on the chest. This innovative product, designed with feedback from patients, is a testament to Ford's ongoing commitment to supporting individuals affected by breast cancer.

The SupportBelt offers a practical and comfortable solution for a significant population of mastectomy patients. Ford's collaborative approach, involving patients and design professionals and collaboration with medical experts, ensures the SupportBelt is both effective and sensitive to the needs of those it serves. 

The SupportBelt will be available at no cost here, and reinforces Ford's long-standing commitment to breast cancer awareness and support through its Ford Warriors in Pink program.

Bethany Cristof, head of ownership marketing at Ford Motor Company, says, "100,000 in the U.S. women undergo a mastectomy every year. The physical and emotional toll they experience is compounded when even the simplest tasks are impacted. Wearing a seatbelt is something we all need to do every time we enter a vehicle, and yet it can cause these women such discomfort. In recognition of this issue, the SupportBelt encourages these patients to keep using their seatbelt by making it more comfortable to do so. This product truly embodies the promise we make to our customers every day, whereby they should feel free to move and pursue their dreams. Ford has championed for breast cancer patients for 30 years, and we're proud to have used our expertise to design and validate something just for them. Built Ford Tough isn’t just marketing, it’s real life for these women, and they should have the freedom to go wherever life takes them by confidently and comfortably buckling up every time.”

Says Lynn Simoncini, creative director at VML, “Having experienced the extreme pain after a mastectomy first-hand, I knew there were others out there experiencing it, too. It was like a lightbulb moment. Fortunately, I work for a company that encourages out of the box thinking and a partner like Ford who was all in for developing a solution.”