Breast Cancer Survivor and Fashion Designer Donates Comfort Robes to Fellow Warriors

In a heartwarming display of solidarity and compassion, Marie Nohr, a breast cancer survivor and accomplished fashion designer from Ivins, is turning her personal journey into a source of comfort for others battling cancer. Nohr is crafting and donating handmade robes to women undergoing cancer treatment, offering both practical support and emotional encouragement.

From Fashion to Philanthropy: A Personal Journey

“While it is just a simple robe, I hope that a woman finds comfort in being able to just let her body heal through something that we shouldn’t be going through, and yet it affects so many women,” Nohr shared, her voice filled with empathy and understanding.

Nohr’s path to this philanthropic endeavor began unexpectedly. In April 2022, she was riding high on the success of her newly launched fashion business, a venture born during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, her world turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer just six months later.

Inspiration Born from Necessity

As Nohr prepared for her surgeries, she realized the challenges she would face in dressing herself during recovery. This led her to design easy-to-wear robes made from soft, stretchy fabric with an elastic tie. Little did she know that this personal solution would evolve into a mission to support others.

About a year after her own diagnosis, Nohr began creating robes to donate to other women fighting breast cancer. “The robes are just a way of paying it forward because I had a lot of people helping me financially through that, including my family,” Nohr explained, her eyes welling with tears. “They were there when I went through one of the scariest times of my life.”

Expanding Reach and Impact

Nohr’s initiative has grown organically. She crafts robes for local women and those connected through her Facebook network who are undergoing mastectomies. Additionally, she donates collections of robes in various sizes to plastic surgeons’ offices, where they are distributed to breast cancer patients.

Looking ahead, Nohr plans to extend her donations to local cancer centers and broaden her support to include women battling other types of cancers, such as ovarian cancer.

A Tribe of Support

Throughout her journey, Nohr has found strength in the community of women she’s connected with, both through her fashion business and her cancer experience. “It’s been really nice building that tribe of women that support my business, but also be able to reach out and confirm decisions and things like that that I’ve been making throughout my journey,” she reflected. “The support I have had is unreal.”

Advocacy for Early Detection

Now in remission, Nohr is using her platform to advocate for women’s health. She emphasizes the importance of regular self-exams and medical check-ups, regardless of age or family history. Her own diagnosis at 36, with no family history of breast cancer, serves as a powerful reminder that early detection can be life-saving.

“I didn’t think anything of it because I had no family history,” Nohr said. “Family history does not matter anymore. Age doesn’t matter anymore. The CDC says to start getting checked at 40 and I was 36 when I found out.”

A Legacy of Comfort and Hope

As Nohr continues to create and donate her comfort robes, she’s not just providing practical support – she’s offering hope, understanding, and a reminder that no one faces cancer alone. Her journey from fashion designer to breast cancer survivor to philanthropist serves as an inspiring example of how personal challenges can be transformed into a force for good, touching the lives of countless women in their most vulnerable moments.