Wilmington non-profit gifts 44 breast cancer survivors free mattresses to aid in rest, recovery

WILMINGTON (WWAY) — It’s an initiative to support breast cancer survivors on their journey to not only healing, but thriving.

Wilmington non-profit Going Beyond the Pink gifted free memory-foam mattresses to forty-four breast cancer survivors outside of their office in Independence Mall on Tuesday evening.

Going Beyond the Pink partnered with the United Breast Cancer Foundation to give away more than twenty-three thousand dollars worth of the mattresses donated by the company Sealy.

In gifting the mattresses, the organization aims to provide the survivors with the gift of a good rest.

Founder and Executive Director Kara Kenan emphasized the importance of sleep in physical and emotional recovery.

She explained that it contributes to enhanced immune function, reduced stress levels, and improved mental health; all what she calls ‘essential elements’ for survivors as they rebuild their lives post-treatment.

“Sleep is so important for healing,” she continued. “So being able to offer people new mattresses that are often something they can’t afford – especially if they’re in a medical crisis or have recently gone through a medical crisis – this is a real gift. It’s just really joyful.”

For her, an event like this is equally a gift for those receiving, and those giving.

Alecia Chinn is one of the mattress recipients, and at the time of the event, she was celebrating being three weeks post-treatment.

“This has been a very hard and unexpected journey,” she shared. “And it just means a lot to have the community support us like they do.”

Going Beyond the Pink was founded in 2017 to fill gaps in the breast cancer community in the Cape Fear.

Some of the services it provides include care bags, medical assistance, patient navigation, mastectomy bras, breast prosthetics, or anything that a patient needs to get through treatment and then thrive through survivorship.

For more information about Going Beyond the Pink’s mission, and how to get involved, visit their website.