AURORA, Ill. (CBS) — An Aurora woman is being honored for making a difference for breast cancer patients.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports, Cassandra Christopher-Summers, who works as a mail carrier in Naperville, said it all started when her cousin, Mary Ann Taylor, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She knew I liked to clean up and decorate and all that good stuff, so whenever she wanted her room cleaned, she would just call and ask, can I help her clean up the room?” she said.

Taylor passed away in 2008, but Christopher-Summers wanted to honor her cousin’s memory and help breast cancer patients. So she started the nonprofit group Mary’s Room, dedicated to giving makeovers to the bedrooms of those suffering from breast cancer.

“I would hope to get some sponsors where I can reach out to more people, because most of it is coming out of my pocket,” she said.

Christopher-Summers was honored in Washington, D.C., this week as Humanitarian of the Year by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Mary’s Room has completed three makeovers so far.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports