We are so excited to introduce you to Cancer Cartel! Cancer Cartel was started by Kerry Solmonsen, Katy Tinney & Shelly Tinney- Miller all of whom have had cancer in order to provide grants for people going through cancer. Learn all about them and their organization in our Q&A interview below! 

What is Cancer Cartel?

We are a 501c3 nonprofit who is dedicated to helping cancer warriors who are facing the unexpected, and overwhelming costs of a cancer battle. We hear from people who are making choices between life saving medication and putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their head- that is a choice nobody should have to make. So, we decided to do something about it, and Cancer Cartel was born. We support cancer warriors nationwide who are facing all types of cancer diagnoses. We also knew we wanted to do things differently. We knew we wanted to approach fundraising in a fun and lighthearted way, and in a way we, and our supporters would enjoy!

What led you to start Cancer Cartel?

Having cancer changes you. It makes you realize that you were given another chance when others were not. We know how lucky we are and we know the three of us were destined to create the Cancer Cartel. We also knew this had to be fun and fulfilling at the same time! Three years in and we are loving every aspect of this mission!

What made you focus on providing financial resources for people with cancer?

We all know first hand how much the added pressure of financial strain makes healing even harder. We overheard it in hospital hallways, people who are late on rent, can’t put food on the table, can’t afford daycare or basic household necessities. We heard a different version of the same story over and over. We were fortunate to have families to help us, but we talk to people every day who have no help, and we want to help them.  

How has Cancer Cartel evolved since you started it?

We started with fashion, our original idea was to be “the RealReal of the nonprofit world”, taking donations of luxury fashion and giving the proceeds from the sale of those coveted items to warriors in need. We knew this had great potential, but we also knew it was going to take a lot more than that to raise the amount of money we needed. So, we expanded our fundraising model from donations of luxury fashion and accessories and financial contributions-to partnering with brands, events, celebrities, stylists and influencers to drive the mission further faster!

What are all the ways people can support Cancer Cartel?

There are so many! We now partner with the RealReal and they will coordinate your donation and either pick up, or arrange to have shipped, all of our luxury donations. We have a monthly pledge program where you can join anywhere from $5- $100 per month, or you can make a one time contribution on our website!  
Another great way to support us is to share about us with your community. Whether that is on your social media, a podcast, your monthly newsletter, or at a cocktail party- awareness helps us in so many ways. It helps us find supporters, as well as find people who need our help!
We are also open to EVERY creative idea, so please reach out to us if you want to get involved!

Tell us about your love of fashion & how you incorporated it into Cancer Cartel!

Each one of us has our own history and love of fashion and beauty. But, the common thread for all of us is the fact that we ALL used fashion and beauty as a way to cope with our cancer journeys. We got dressed, and put on our makeup, and it helped us put on a smile and put one foot in front of the other. We know this method doesn’t speak to everyone, but it worked for us, and it inspired our idea for Cancer Cartel!

What’s next for you?

2022 is a huge growth year for us and we are so excited about some of our upcoming partnerships and events. We will be doing some more shopping events with Alice + Olivia, as well as adding Veronica Beard to the list of awesome fashion brands who believe in our mission. June-August we will be the supported charity for Curateur, Rachel Zoe’s shopping platform, and are excitedly looking forward to multiple brand partnerships in October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

We are also seeking sponsorships, grants, and partnerships with charitable foundations to build our organization and increase our ability to help warriors in need. 

Where can people find you and Cancer Cartel?

We are active on Instagram and Facebook, as well as LinkedIn and a little bit of twitter, but you can always find us at our website www.cancercartel.org or shoot us an email at cancercartel@gmail.com.