Support Natalie Sanders' Fight Against Stage 4 Breast Cancer

The Sanders family has become chosen family to me and my partner Dylan over the last two years in more ways than one. As the matriarch of the family and cancer fighting bad ass mom of 5, Natalie continues to be such a force of laughter and love for her kids and those who are lucky enough to know her. In the last few years, Natalie has continued to move through countless chemo & radiation treatments, hospital stays, surgeries and ambulance rides that have been difficult and life altering for Natalie and her family. Yet Natalie continues on because she is so much for than a cancer patient. She is a mother, she is a friend, she is a caretaker, and she is one of the funniest people I know.

But right now, her full time job has been fighting to be around for her kids, and especially for some of the most formative years in her youngest child's life, Exodus. And just like her mom, Exodus is an incredibly thoughtful, playful, and energetic soul. Watching how gracefully she has navigated her mother's cancer has inspired me. But at just 10 years old, Exodus deserves to be a kid again. She deserves to have her mom cancer free. And she deserves to be reunited with all of the family and friends she left behind in Georgia when they moved to Long Beach in 2021.

Dylan & I have created this fundraiser to bring community together to support the Sanders family to not only survive, but thrive moving forward. As Natalie continues to fight through her stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, her and her family hope to fund a move back to Atlanta, Georgia. Although it will be hard to see the Sanders family leave our day-to-day life, we are wholeheartedly here to support them through this transition because if we have learned anything in this life, it is that being surrounded by a community you love and trust through hard times is necessary.

All donations made for this cause will go directly to the Sanders family and will help support them in the following ways:

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read about the Sanders family. Even if you can not donate, as we know many of us are facing difficult times financially, we kindly ask that you share this fundraiser with your community. Even if you give up one coffee this week to help us reach this goal for the Sanders, it is more than enough. We also welcome any words of support, kindness, and love to share with Natalie & her family.

Thank you for showing up in community with us.

With Sincerest Gratitude and Love,

Kristen Gmerek & Dylan Videto

(Kristen, Exodus, and Dylan at a skating rink in 2023)