Gemma Foundation plans mattress giveaway in April

PAWTUCKET – The Gloria Breast Cancer Resource

is working with the Breast Cancer Foundation

to give away 160 queenothsize Tempur-pedic mattresses to

cancer patients and surviw.vors at the UBCF Mattress and

Bag Event: Gifts of Comfort Hope, this April at the Warernwick Mall. ing The United Breast Cancer itsfoundation is a national nonprofisit organization that provides edutocation and financial help for early tondetection breast screenings, treathoment, and aftercare with a goal to calhelp alleviate the stress caused ndby a cancer diagnosis. In addition ndto financial grants, UBCF proves hishigh-quality donated gifts like ingclothing, shoes, health and beauforty es/ products, and restorative matorstresses. is “UBCF’S mission and values in do rs. is ary ors rth nts eir up, etc. lso ing em int py in of ter ter. align with ours, and we have been collaborating with them since 2022,” said Bryan Sawyer, the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer. “The Gloria Gemma Foundation has been helping the cancer community for 20 years, and this event is one more way we are providing comfort to the people we serve.”

Since 2012, UBCF has given away almost 4,400 mattresses through numerous Mattress and Pink Bag events across the country. This is the first time they are bringing the event to New England. UBCF, like the Gloria Gemma Foundation, understands the importance of restful sleep for breast cancer patients and survivors. In fact, a study from John Hopkins indicated that cancer therapy side effects and emotions can disrupt sleep, and survivors can suffer with insomnia for years and even decades after cancer treatments have ended.

The Council for Better Sleep indicates that people should replace their mattresses about every seven years, but many people keep their mattresses for many years beyond that because the average cost of a quality mattress can run between $1,500 and $4000, and that can be cost prohibitive for patients and survivors who may be struggling financially due to the cost of their cancer treatments. Sleeping on a quality mattress can help with long-term and permanent side effects caused by cancer treatments.

“It is an honor to work alongside the Gloria gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation and bring UBCF’S mattress and pink bag event to Rhode Island. Personally, it brings me great joy to partner with them because our organizations were created in memory of two amazing women who passed away from breast cancer—gloria Gemma, and my mother, Audrey Beverly Mastroianni,” said Stephanie Mastroianni, the executive director of UBCF.

Mastroianni’s mother was from Rhode Island and the family spent many summers on the beaches of the Ocean State. She has fond memories of those times and now takes her children to the beaches in Rhode Island.

160 mattresses will be given away in one day at the Warwick Mall who is generously donating space to UBCF to host the event.

“Warwick Mall is honored to host such an important event for our community,” said General Manager Domenic Schiavone. “Breast cancer impacts so many people, it is critical to do our part.”

Breast cancer patients and survivors who need a mattress can apply through the Gloria Gemma Foundation’s website at www. gloriagemma.org. Mattresses will be given on a first come first serve basis, and recipients will be required to pick up their mattresses on the day of the event.

“We truly appreciate the generosity of the United Breast Cancer Foundation for helping the people we serve in such an impactful way, and to the Warwick Mall for hosting the event. We couldn’t ask for better partnerships,” said Sawyer.

Mastroianni said, “Working with Gloria Gemma is like a homecoming, and building on the legacy of two special women. I am looking forward to this event and future collaborations with the Gloria Gemma Foundation.”