Back in October 2024, Ford unveiled a new invention that it calls the SupportBelt, a seatbelt accessory that’s designed to help mastectomy patients travel comfortably while they’re on the road to recovery. The idea for this innovative feature came from Lynn Simoncini, a creative director at VML (a marketing partner of Ford) after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and subsequently underwent a double mastectomy and discovered that driving with a seatbelt led to some agonizing pain. Now, given the incredible response Ford has received in regard to the SupportBelt, it’s no surprise to learn that the feature is expanding in terms of availability.
Ford’s SupportBelt is now available in Spain, in fact, after it was recently validated by the Ford Europe legal team. The automaker points out that such a thing is needed across Europe, given the fact that 363,000 women and men in that region deal with breast cancer, reconstruction, mastectomy, or related treatments each year. At the moment, Ford Spain has 200 sample units that are available for free distribution in collaboration with the Spanish Metastatic Breast Cancer Association (AECMM), and those interested in getting one can request it via that association’s website.
The Ford SupportBelt is made from soft, breathable foam that adjusts to the seat belt to reduce pressure in the chest area. Its concave shape allows it to adapt to different types of bodies as well, minimizing the risk of discomfort or irritation in both the driver’s and the passenger’s seat, after the total or partial surgical removal of the breast.
“With the SupportBelt, we have taken a step further in our commitment to inclusive mobility: we want each journey to be comfortable also for those who face the postoperative period of a mastectomy or who, after a reconstruction or certain treatments, feel discomfort when putting on the belt. Thanks to this innovation, designed by Ford with this need in mind, they can travel and drive with total safety and accessibility,” said Cristina del Rey, Director of Communication and Public Affairs of Ford Spain and the European Cluster.
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