Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Crystal Reidy of Gilbert

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Crystal Reidy. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Crystal, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Who are you learning from right now?
I am constantly learning from the incredible women facing terminal cancer, including those who join us on the Pink Sister Cruise. Every day, they wake up to fear, isolation, and the weight of the unknown—but they choose to laugh anyway, to smile through their tears, and to lift others even while carrying so much themselves. These women are warriors of grace. They continue to work, to volunteer, and to pour love into the world around them. Their strength, spirit, and sisterhood leave a lasting imprint on everyone they meet—including me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Crystal Reidy—founder behind the Pink Sister Cruise, a nonprofit retreat created for women living with stage 4 cancer. What started as a life-changing experience during my own cancer journey became the inspiration for building something lasting and deeply meaningful. After attending a survivor retreat while going through chemo in 2012, I realized the power of connection, community, and joy—especially when facing something as isolating as a terminal diagnosis.
After going into remission, I launched the Pink Sister Cruise to offer women with stage 4 cancer a chance to escape the medical grind, feel celebrated, and remember who they are beyond their diagnosis. We laugh, we cry, we dance under the stars, and we remind one another that we are still alive—still worthy of joy.
What makes my work unique isn’t just the services we offer—it’s the deep belief that healing, hope, and happiness can coexist with hardship. I bring that belief into everything I do, from organizing back-to-school drives to helping people find their voices in therapy.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I’ll never forget the moment that helped shape the heart behind the Pink Sister Cruise. Before the cruise ever existed, a beautiful soul named Michelle came to visit from out of state. She had connected with a group of women in a cancer support group and was hoping to check off something from her bucket list—seeing Sedona. But when she arrived, her plans fell through. The women who were going to take her couldn’t make it.

I tried to lift her spirits and said, “It’s okay, you can go next time.”

She looked at me and gently said, “Crystal, I have stage 4 cancer. There is no next time.”

In that moment, reality hit me hard. I looked at her and said, “Okay, then we’re going.”

I called into work, packed up my three-year-old, and the very next day, we drove to Sedona. Michelle had severe neuropathy, so she couldn’t walk down the hill to Oak Creek—she scooted, determined to touch the water, to feel the moment.

Watching her laugh as the cold water ran over her hands reminded me what really matters: showing up, making memories, saying yes while we still can.

That day was a turning point. It was the beginning of understanding that women like Michelle deserve more than just treatment—they deserve joy, adventure, sisterhood, and moments they’ll never forget. That belief lives on in every cruise we sail, every hug we give, and every woman we honor.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
Our very first Pink Sister Cruise was made up of women from right here in Arizona. When we planned the second one, something unexpected happened—we started getting referrals from out of state. At first, I hesitated. The sticker shock of additional airline tickets made me want to say, “Arizona residents only.” It felt safer, easier, more affordable.

But then I paused.

These women were being sent to me—for this experience, this moment of joy and healing. Who was I to say no? Honestly, my opinion didn’t matter. I realized this wasn’t about me—it was about them.

So now, I accept whoever applies, no matter where they come from. I trust that if their name shows up, it’s for a reason. And every time, the funding finds a way. The right hearts show up to support, the pieces fall into place, and we sail—with love leading the way.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
We fund the Pink Sister Cruises through good old-fashioned yard sales. When I started, I wanted a way to raise money without relying solely on donations or grants—though those are truly a saving grace. I just wanted to do something, to create something sustainable. Yard sales became our foundation.

But my dream is bigger than driveways and folding tables. One day, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Pink Sister Thrift Store—a space built with love, purpose, and secondhand treasures that fund once-in-a-lifetime moments for women with stage 4 cancer.

Until then, you’ll find me and the Pink Sister helpers hanging up yard sale signs in the dark and sipping Starbucks at 5 a.m. on a random Saturday morning, driven by heart and hope.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would stop wasting time second-guessing the dreams placed on my heart. I wouldn’t overthink the “how” or get stuck in fear about funding or logistics. I’d stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. Instead, I’d say yes more often, hug longer, take the trip, and keep showing up for the women but I would be showing up in a lot bigger ship! I’d stop apologizing for dreaming big and just go after it, because I’ve already seen how one act of kindness, one memory made, can shift everything. If I had 10 years left, I’d spend every one of them making sure the people around me know they are seen, loved, and never alone. In fact, I think I am going to start doing that right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://healthyhabitstogo.com/
• Instagram: @cgreidy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-reidy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystal.reidy

Image Credits
Crystal Reidy