Coronado resident Heidi Iverson is opening her cancer support group, the Thrive Tribe, to neighbors as Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins in October.
Iverson had no family history of breast cancer. She ate well and exercised regularly. She got it anyway.
"I am a perfect example of the anomaly who, despite my healthy eating and exercise habits and no family history, got breast cancer," Iverson wrote in a column published Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Coronado Eagle & Journal.
Iverson, who describes herself as a breast cancer "thriver," runs the Thrive Tribe as a safe space for islanders going through cancer treatment. Members share questions, experiences and encouragement online. Residents interested in joining can email [email protected].
The nonprofit she highlights is Cancer Cartel, co-founded in 2019 by fellow Coronado resident Shelly Tinney-Miller, her sister Katy Tinney-Olson and friend Kerry Solmonsen. All three are cancer survivors. Tinney-Miller received her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2010.
Cancer Cartel's mission is direct: cover everyday costs that pile up during treatment. The organization says it helps patients with groceries, gas, power bills and mortgage payments so they can focus on healing. According to the nonprofit's website, 100 percent of donations go to patients, with all operating costs underwritten separately.
The group started as a clothing resale venture on eBay and has grown into a national operation. It now raises money through luxury fashion sales, fundraising events and brand partnerships, according to a February 2025 profile in The Coronado News. As of that reporting, Cancer Cartel had helped 691 patients in the prior year. The co-founders said they anticipated reaching $1 million in total grants since the organization's founding.
To guard against fraud, Cancer Cartel accepts grant applications only from case managers or social workers employed by hospitals or cancer treatment centers.
In a February 2025 interview with The Coronado News, Tinney-Miller said the impact goes beyond covering bills. "It's not just the money," she said. "A lot of the time it is just seeing three survivors talking to them about how they made it through."
Cancer Cartel is listed in the Coronado Chamber of Commerce directory. Residents can learn more or donate at cancercartel.org.
Iverson also pointed readers toward the National Breast Cancer Foundation for early detection and self-exam information and Breastcancer.org for educational articles and podcasts. Cancer Cartel had not announced specific October events in Coronado as of Sept. 29.
