Turning Pain Into Purpose — A Lake Norman Woman Leading with Impact, Healing, and Purpose

In communities like Lake Norman, where connection and culture thrive, there is a growing need for conversations that go deeper—into healing, wellness, and equitable access to care. Brandy Sims is leading that conversation with both grace and grit.

As the Founder and CEO of the Elizabeth House Foundation, Sims has dedicated her life to ensuring that underserved women across North Carolina gain access to life-saving breast healthcare. Through mobile mammogram services, patient navigation, and community outreach, her organization is addressing a critical gap—one that has left hundreds of women on waiting lists for preventive screenings.

But her mission is not only about healthcare—it is about healing the whole woman.

A Certified Community Health Worker, Patient Navigator, and Registered Yoga Teacher, Sims integrates mindfulness, movement, and emotional wellness into her work. She is also the founder of S.I.S. (Sisters in Strength), a women’s support community that creates safe spaces for connection, restoration, and growth through meditation, breathwork, and shared experiences.

Her passion for this work is deeply personal.

As a survivor of domestic violence, Sims has transformed her lived experiences into a platform for impact. Rather than allowing trauma to define her, she has chosen to use it as a catalyst for change—becoming what she describes as an “alchemist of pain into purpose.”

That transformation is powerfully reflected in her debut book Soul Snatchers: A True Story About Narcissistic Abuse, written under her pen name, Brandy Symone. Through her storytelling, she offers transparency, truth, and tools for women seeking to reclaim their identity and rebuild their lives after emotional and psychological trauma.

Now, Sims is bringing her mission directly to the Lake Norman community through the Elizabeth House Foundation’s 4th Annual Tea Party Fundraiser, “Honoring the Survivors,” taking place on Sunday, April 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at River Run Country Club in Davidson.

This signature event will honor both breast cancer survivors and survivors of domestic violence— creating a space that blends elegance with empowerment. Guests will experience an afternoon of tea, wellness-centered programming, inspirational speakers, and meaningful connection, all while supporting access to critical healthcare services for women in need.

Proceeds from the event will directly fund mobile mammograms and follow-up care for underserved women, helping to close the gap in early detection and treatment.

“This is more than an event—it’s a movement,” Sims shares. “It’s about reminding women that they are not alone, that their stories matter, and that healing is possible in community.”

Through her work, Brandy Sims is not only changing outcomes—she is changing narratives.

She is proving that even in life’s most painful moments, purpose can be born. And in spaces like Lake Norman, that purpose is creating ripple effects of healing, hope, and empowerment for women from all walks of life.

Event Information