About BodyKind Vail
BodyKind Vail was founded on lived experience, born from the recognition of what it feels like to struggle with an eating disorder and have nowhere to turn. The organization grew out of real need: community, compassion, and spaces where open, honest conversations about food, body image, and mental health can exist without shame.
What began as a small education event featuring a guest speaker from the Eating Recovery Center quickly revealed a deeper need for safe, understanding support. BodyKind Vail was created to meet that need and build a community rooted in compassion and connection.
Today, BodyKind Vail offers peer-led, nonclinical programs such as peer support meetings, group mealtime support, and creative healing workshops. These offerings reduce isolation, foster empowerment, and support individuals wherever they are.
At BodyKind Vail, we believe recovery is possible and that no one should have to navigate an eating disorder alone. By centering compassion, lived experience, and rural realities, we’re working toward a more informed, inclusive, and supportive future for all bodies.
We asked community members: What words or thoughts come to mind when you hear “eating disorders”?
“Mental illness and struggle.”
“Internal mental struggles with how your body is presenting, causing you to harm yourself”
“The time I spent depriving myself and hurting myself for years trying to avoid the inevitable shape that my body was genetically meant to be. I was diagnosed with anorexia athletica and bulimia nervosa starting when I was a high school athlete. These issues persisted for years until I decided to get help for them.”
“Instability.”
“Lots of friends, family, myself, and young adults.”
“It stresses me out honestly and brings up a lot of emotions because I’ve been dealing with this my whole life.”
“Someone is using food or the lack thereof to soothe horrible thoughts.”
“People who struggle with their relationship with food.”
“Abnormal eating behaviors, eating too less or to much that affects with your mental health.”
Meet the Team
Our staff and board bring BodyKind Vail to life. Their lived experiences, leadership, and love for this work are what make our mission possible.
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Founder and Executive Director
She / Her
Alex Kandalaft is a Vail Valley resident with a background in early childhood education and experience working with multiple local nonprofits, driven by a commitment to strengthening the community.
Following college graduation, Alex battled anorexia and bulimia. During that difficult time, she found no local resources or community support to turn to, which only deepened her sense of isolation. This struggle ultimately led her to seek inpatient treatment at the Eating Recovery Center in Denver.
Now firmly committed to her recovery, Alex has reflected on her experience and decided—enough is enough. She is passionate about creating the resources and programs in the valley that she wished had been available during her illness. As she began speaking with others across the community, the responses were heartbreaking: no one should feel their self-worth depends on their body size, yet every person she talked to felt exactly that. No child should lose their adolescence to the grip of an eating disorder, yet many do.
As founder of BodyKind Vail, Alex is dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding eating disorders and breaking generational narratives that tie self-worth to body size. Her mission is to ensure no child is counting calories and that every individual in the community feels valued beyond appearance.
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Board Member / Secretary
She / Her / Ella
Brenda Saucedo, born and raised in the Vail Valley, grew up as a proud woman of color in a traditional Mexican household. Early questions about food, body image, and identity went unanswered, and the silence continued into adolescence, when conversations about mental health were rare in the Latinx community.
Now a mother to a curious 10-year-old, Brenda is finding her voice. Through recovery and sobriety, she is breaking generational cycles of shame and unrealistic appearance standards. Her mission is to teach her daughter—and the wider Hispanic community—that value is not measured by the body and that it’s okay to talk about the hard things.
Her experiences fuel her passion for education and advocacy. With over 13 years in Early Childhood Education, Brenda currently serves as a Family Service Coordinator for Eagle County Schools’ Head Start Program, supporting under-resourced families and promoting culturally responsive care.
As a founding board member of BodyKind Vail, Brenda is committed to creating a community where stories like hers are heard, supported, and transformed.
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Board Member / Board Co-Chair
She / Her
Leslie Alexander, originally from Austin, Texas, moved to Vail Valley in 2022. She began her career as an interior designer with her own design firm working on commercial projects and historic restoration.
When she was not raising a family, she was giving back to her community by volunteering and serving on non-profit boards.
Leslie is a passionate advocate for our aging population, children struggling in school, and the right to clean water. She served on the Mary Lee Foundation, Good Shepherd Episcopal School and the Gazelle Foundation boards.
She is also the creative energy behind The Success Coach for Kids helping children with learning differences discover creative problem-solving tools through mentoring, leadership, and advocacy training.
Leslie is a classically trained pianist, artist, gardener and amateur fossil hunter. She is currently volunteering at The Community Market and the LaVenture farm in Gypsum.
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Board Member / Treasurer
She / Her
Chase McNair is a Human Resource Recruiter at Christy Sports, where she specializes in connecting people with meaningful opportunities in the outdoor industry. With a background in Outdoor Recreation Management from Georgia Southern University, Chase brings a deep appreciation for community, wellness, and purposeful work to everything she does.
Originally from Georgia, Chase has always been drawn to people-first environments- whether that’s supporting candidates in finding careers that align with their passions or contributing to causes that promote mental and physical well-being. Her passion for health advocacy is rooted in a belief that everyone deserves access to support, understanding, and the resources needed to thrive.
As a board member for BodyKind Vail, Chase is honored to support the mission of eating disorder recovery and prevention through compassionate leadership and strategic insight. She is especially passionate about breaking down stigma and ensuring that individuals feel seen, heard, and valued as they navigate their recovery journeys.
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Board Member / Board Co-Chair
He / Him
Ian Grask has lived in the Eagle River Valley since 2021 working in the non-profit space. Currently Ian is the Development Manager for Bravo! Vail Music Festival. Ian serves on the Town of Avon Culture Arts & Special Events Committee and is the Executive Treasurer for Eagle County Gives.
Ian is a passionate community member, he enjoys volunteering with a litany of organizations including Mountain Pride, SpeakUp ReachOut, SOS Outreach, Eagle Valley Community Foundation, Vail Dance Festival, and Eagle River Water Coalition.
Prior to living in Eagle County Ian lived in Chicago, IL working in corporate finance for large consumer packaged goods companies and small fresh food start-ups. Ian previously served on the junior boards of Purple Asparagus a healthy food non-profit in Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet.
Ian holds a BBA in Finance from the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa.