As soon as we join this organization we are public representatives. Last month, I was able to function in this role in a more direct fashion.

Texas 4000 recently received a donation in honor of Mike & Cindy Barron. At their holiday party, the donors (friends of Mike & Cindy) presented a moving letter to the Barrons explaining that a donation had been made to a cancer research-benefactor and that the donation was made in their honor since Cindy was a three-time chondrosarcoma (cartilage cancer) survivor. The donation had been made secretly so that the donation and my sudden and seemingly uninvited appearance at the party would be a revealed all at once. In response to the letter written to the Barrons by their friends, I gave brief statements sharing my own cancer story and thanking the Barrons.

Part of my motivation to become a Media/PR chair was to fulfill responsibilities such as this. I wanted to make direct connections with people and use my set of skills to make an impact on those people and connect that impact with Texas 4000. The Barrons’ party gave me just that opportunity. I was able to meet all of the guests and explain T4k’s mission and why I became involved. After I spoke, I was invited to stay at the party and spent the night plugging T4k, meeting the guests, explaining how the trip works and how the riders make it happen. The highlight of the night easily was getting an autographed calendar from Ms. April 2008 of the Hot Survivors bikini calendar herself, Cindy Barron.

All in all it was a fun experience highlighting the opportunities T4k has already been able to provide.