Natasha Diaz has always believed in building a joyful life.
Born in Sydney, Australia, she moved to the United States at age ten when her parents set out to pursue the American dream. She grew up across the South Bay in Torrance and Redondo Beach, and married her husband, Robert, in 2009. Natasha embraced that vision fully: family, community, and making the most out of every moment.
For Natasha, that sense of community deepened when she joined her local gym, The Bay Club. “I just fell in love with it,” she says. “The people, the community, it really helped change my life.”
Then, everything shifted.
After returning from a summer trip to Portugal, Natasha noticed something unusual, what she initially thought was a bug bite. But it didn’t go away. Trusting her instincts, she followed through on a scheduled mammogram.
The results were inconclusive. A biopsy followed. Then came the call. Stage one breast cancer.
Her doctor recommended a mastectomy. Natasha moved quickly, undergoing surgery to remove the cancer, followed immediately by reconstruction.
On the day she was diagnosed, Natasha reached out to her personal trainer at The Bay Club. She was overwhelmed, angry, and scared for the road ahead. Together, they created a plan to support her through her treatment.
She trained hard leading up to surgery, determined to be as strong as possible, both physically and mentally.
“I wanted to make sure I was strong enough to overcome this.”
One month later, she received the news she had hoped for: Clear margins. No evidence of cancer elsewhere in her body.
Today, she remains cancer-free, continuing preventive treatment and regular screenings. She gets annual mammograms and MRIs every six months; she chooses vigilance and peace of mind over uncertainty.
But the hardest part wasn’t the surgery. It was everything that came after.
“The mental struggle was the hardest,” Natasha shares.
She found herself needing connection, she was searching for a space to talk openly, to listen, and to be understood by others walking a similar path. That’s when she found the Cancer Support Community South Bay. She joined a weekly support group that became a vital part of her healing.
“Just hearing the stories and seeing the range of women… we’re all still trying to cope with life and get through it. It was such an important outlet.”
That strength led her to the Tour de Pier. She wanted to give back and support the Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSC South Bay). She wanted to be part of Tour de Pier, not just as a participant, but as an advocate, by telling her story and riding on stage.
She joined The Bay Club team and committed to riding and fundraising so others could access the same life-changing resources that helped her.
“The way it makes me feel to raise money… it’s overwhelming,” she says. “Seeing all the bikes lined up on the pier, all for the same cause, it is just incredibly inspiring.”
Natasha rides for the community that supported her. She rides for those navigating life during and after cancer. She rides to ensure no one has to face it alone.
Every dollar she raises helps provide free support services through CSC South Bay, from counseling to support groups, art classes to yoga classes, for patients, survivors, and their families.
Surviving cancer is only part of the journey. Living beyond it takes strength, support, and community.
Natasha rides for a cancer-free life. She rides for community. She rides for joy.