Detroit Garment Group Guild Partners With The Angel Pillow Project For Breast Cancer Survivors

By Raquel Parks
@MetroDivaPages

The Detroit fashion industry is extending its sewing skills and designers' talents to support breast cancer survivors. The Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3) is collaborating with the Angel Pillow Project to create a signature comfort pillow for breast cancer survivors. Several volunteer sewers and designers will also be lending their time for the cause.

Each designer participating in the event will have the opportunity to create their own signature pillow. The winning pillow will be voted on by the DG3 and the Angel Pillow Project Foundation boards. The winning pillow design will be displayed in hospitals across Metro Detroit.

Sabrina Mayhew, wife of Martin Mayhew who is the General Manager of the Detroit Lions is the founder of Angel Pillow Project.  Mrs. Mayhew was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2011. She underwent a double mastectomy and received a heart-shaped pillow while recovering from a difficult surgery.

At first, she was not aware where the pillow came from but was very grateful to have it. Eventually, Mayhew found out that Lorraine Stevens, whose daughter also had breast cancer, made the pillow as a kind gesture for many patients in the hospital.

"The pillow truly improved my recovery and was invaluable as I healed from my breast cancer treatments," says Mayhew. "I actually continue to use my pillow today. It helps me get a more restful sleep at night, and I even take it with me when I travel. It's been by my side and helped me through some really rough times. In fact, the pillow helped me so much during my recovery that I wanted to share it with others."

As a result, Mayhew also began making pillows for patients and quickly founded the Angel Pillow Project Foundation. Each month, pillows are delivered to breast cancer patients across Metro Detroit and made by volunteers. There is no cost to survivors to receive a pillow.  All pillows are funded through Angel Pillow Project Foundation.

Recently, Mayhew saw the opportunity to extend the efforts of the foundation with the help of Karen Buscemi, founder of Detroit Garment Group Guild and editor of StyleLine magazine. Buscemi expresses great enthusiasm over the partnership to benefit breast cancer survivors.

"Angel Pillow Project is a great cause that helps breast cancer survivors in a very different way than most foundations, which I thought was interesting and fun," she says.  "What better way to put a Detroit stamp on this project than to reach out to our local designers and sewers to create pillows to comfort others?  Our fashion community is very generous, and I believe we'll get a nice turnout of volunteers."

The event to make pillows for breast cancer survivors will take place on February 3, from 2 to 4pm at Gilda's Club in Royal Oak. Volunteers are encouraged. To participate in the event, you may contact Sherrie Handrinos at 734-341-6859. For more information on the Angel Pillow Project Foundation and the Detroit Garment Group Guild, visit www.AngelPillow.org and  detroitgarmentgroup.org.

Raquel is a Michigan native with a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Michigan. She loves fashion and writing about life's everyday stories. She has written for various local publications that include Dearborn Press & Guide and Detroit Fashion Pages. Raquel also writes for her own local events blog, Metro Diva Pages. You can visit Raquel's blog at metrodivapages-rdp.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter @MetroDivaPages.