About Us
About Us
The 5280 Mermaid is a family business run by Sarah Kleinhans and her children, Madelene and Addison. It began in 2010 as a side hustle to help pay medical bills after Addison was diagnosed with leukemia at age five. In 2021, they officially established the business under the brand name The 5280 Mermaid and launched their beverage infusion line.
The brand name and logo bring together Denver’s elevation of 5,280 feet and the family’s love of the ocean. Sarah grew up on the New Hampshire coast, the family spent two months each year on Cape Cod, and Addison’s Make A Wish trip took them to Hawaii. Now based in Colorado, they carry that beach feeling with them as a Mermaid in the mountains.
Helping others has always been part of their story. At age 12, Madelene founded Heartfelt Hugs for siblings of critically ill children. The nonprofit brought families together for Fun Days Out before closing in 2025. Today, the family donates thousands of dollars in products each year to people undergoing cancer treatment or grieving a loved one. They also provide soups to cancer camps and infusion centers and product baskets to fundraisers supporting cancer causes.
Together, they create soup kits, dip mixes, and Mocktail and Cocktail infusion kits that bring a little of that relaxed beach feeling to everyday life. The 5280 Mermaid is their way of sharing what they love while paying forward the kindness that helped their family.
Our Media Appearances
The 5280 Mermaid (formerly known as Kleinhans Kicking Cancer) began as a small business in 2010 where Sarah Kleinhans and her children (Madelene 23 yrs. and Addison 21 yrs.) create original recipe soups, dips and Intentionally Inappropriate(ly- named) Travel soy candles. Their combined effort initially raised money for Addison's medical bills (due to leukemia diagnosis at age 5 in 2010) and now focuses on assisting cancer families awhile donating product to various fundraisers. The beverage infusion kit line successfully launched in 2021.
Sarah devotes one day weekly to collection and delivery of groceries to cancer families to pay it forward as others had helped her during Addison's 38 month arduous treatment. Currently, Sarah is also caring for her 95 year old mom who recently had two strokes. Due to Addison's latent effects from chemo, both kids were home schooled through to college. Sarah's modeling and performing career had to take a hiatus.
In 1994, fresh out of the University of Colorado, Sarah traveled the world with the nonprofit UP WITH PEOPLE and was on staff for many years. Through that experience she learned to appreciate everything in life and remain positive.
Watching her mother's passion for life and helping others, Madelene started a nonprofit at age 12, Heartfelt Hugs, for siblings of critically ill children (closed 2025.) She knew first-hand how pushed aside she felt during her brother's treatment. Sarah was the Logistics Director and Madelene was the CEO. At their annual event, "Heartfelt Hugs by Madelene Cares" Fun Days Out, up to 100 participants from all over the state of Colorado would attend.
Along the way, Addison created the dip line and volunteers for events so The 5280 Mermaid is truly a family affair.
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