CHICAGO (CBS) — 25-year old Katie Widmar was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was 19. She says when she was going through chemotherapy, she said there was one thing she couldn’t live without.

“I would get so cold, everything hurt my skin because of the chemo, I wouldn’t go anywhere without my blanket.”

So she and her mother founded “Covers of Comfort” which provides blankets to adult cancer patients in Chicago and in Iowa where the Widmars are from.

“We do Northwestern, University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa Methodist in Des Moines and the two hospitals in Dubuque.”

Now six years cancer free, Widmar says the “Covers of Comfort” program makes all the difference for her and so many others.

“When you’re in the hospital as an adult, you are many times alone. We wanted to give them something that this there’s because there is nothing really out there for them. Every adult needs a blankie when you’re sick,” added Widmar.

The blankets are made and donated by friends, neighbors, and businesses.

The Widmars gave out 300-500 blankets just this year.

“You can’t go through something like this and see the outpouring of love and caring from people and not do something to pay it forward.”