Lynn Simoncini never thought of herself as an innovator when she received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. However, after a double mastectomy, she found herself grappling with an unexpected source of pain during a routine activity — driving.
The pressure of wearing a tightly fastened seatbelt across her still-healing chest was agonizing, making even short trips a challenge. It was a problem, she thought, that must be common, but there were no real solutions.
That’s when Simoncini, a creative director at VML – a marketing partner of Ford – and a self-described “car girl,” started sketching out ideas. Simoncini’s initiative led to the creation of the Ford SupportBelt, a device designed to address a need for approximately 100,000 U.S. women and men each year who undergo a mastectomy, or the removal of breast tissue, as part of their treatment plan.
Developed and designed by Ford, the contoured SupportBelt is made from a soft, breathable foam that fastens to the seatbelt to help relieve pressure and reduce discomfort on a person’s chest while driving.
Ford will first offer the SupportBelt – the only device of its kind designed and validated by an automaker – to mastectomy patients in the U.S. at no cost. Those interested can order one by visiting www.Ford.com/SupportBelt.
Lear Corp., a global automotive technology leader in seating and e-systems, will manufacture an initial batch of SupportBelt devices in the U.S. through at least the end of 2024, with first shipments expected by mid-November.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in 157 countries, according to the World Health Organization. Ford has filed a patent for SupportBelt and plans to open it to other manufacturers so production can be scaled across the globe.
A Light Bulb Moment
“I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a product made that makes your seat belt comfortable to wear and that also happens to look good,” Simoncini said after her mastectomy. She shared her idea with her partner, Chad Woolums, and together they drafted a proposal for a supportive, comfortable belt designed specifically for post-mastectomy patients.
Mastectomies, in addition to radiation and chemotherapy, are a common route of treatment for those who have invasive breast cancer.
“The surgery is so much more intense than one can imagine. Residual pain and sensitivities can last for months after surgery, making exposure to everyday objects painful and uncomfortable,” says Dr. Nayana Dekhne, breast surgeon for Corewell Health, a Michigan not-for-profit health system that provided medical expertise during the development of the SupportBelt. “It is also likely that there is a need for additional follow-up surgeries that make the need for this product ongoing past the initial mastectomy.”
With the proposal in hand, Simoncini took the idea to Emily Obert, Ford experience design director. With Obert’s guidance and the help of a team that included design intern Rima Shkoukani, the SupportBelt began to take shape. Shkoukani, a senior industrial design student at Lawrence Tech, pored over research, interviewed breast cancer survivors, and crafted prototypes.
“I was in here for long hours every single day, three weeks straight, just cutting foam and trying out different ways that it would form to a body,” Shkoukani said.
The team worked with engineers to ensure that the SupportBelt met Ford quality standards. They also experimented with varied materials, choosing a low volatile organic compound foam wrapped in fabric made in part from recycled plastic that wraps around the seat belt using a Velcro fastener.
For Shkoukani, she hopes that mastectomy patients can recover from their surgeries more comfortably.
“I just want somebody who is using this product to be like, ‘I’m glad that there was somebody who understood what I am going through and considered this very specific small part of my recovery process in such a thoughtful and considerate way,'” she said.
The SupportBelt is a continuation of decades of Ford support aimed at helping and inspiring in the fight against breast cancer. For 30 years, Ford Warriors in Pink has supported individuals affected by breast cancer, including patients, survivors, and co-survivors.
Ford has invested more than $139 million in the fight against breast cancer through the sale of inspirational apparel and gear, and the initiative helps provide essential transportation solutions for those in need.
Welcome Comfort
Designed with the input of patients and doctors, the SupportBelt provides a comfortable solution for patients to wear their seatbelts on either the driver or passenger sides of the vehicle.
“To know that an automaker is really thinking about the person, the whole person…and is doing research around things that make women more comfortable… I think is really great,” said Najah Woods, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.
The concave design of the SupportBelt allows it to conform to various body types, providing a more personalized fit that reduces the risk of chafing or irritation.
“The SupportBelt demonstrates the profound impact that thoughtful design can have on healing,” says Obert.
As for Simoncini, her original SupportBelt prototype has become part of her everyday life.
“I leave it strapped to the seatbelt in my car and use it every single day,” she said. “I hope that women everywhere, who have experienced the same struggles I have, get the SupportBelt and find comfort in knowing that this product has been brought to them by a group of people who recognize their battle and know the SupportBelt will help.”
