About Me

Profile

About:

To know who Hali is would mean you are privy to knowledge that I, myself, don't yet have.

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas by my father and Granna. My Granna stepped up and took the role left by my absentee mother early on in my life. I'm the youngest of my four siblings and a first generation (and the only) college student of my family. Coming to Austin to attend UT is the farthest I have ever been from home. It has always been a dream of mine to travel and experience the world outside of the one I know. Unfortunately, I have never even left Texas. So why not start with a transcontinental bike ride to Alaska?

I was motivated to come study Psychology at UT so that I could help in the counseling of families and/or people with addictions. I feel that if I am able to use the struggles my family has faced to help just one person, then all the things we went through will have meant something. This is one of the main reasons I was drawn to this organization. I need to be a part of something that is bigger than myself.

Why I Ride

About nine years ago, my Granna was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was extremely lucky in that the cancer had not yet spread to her lymph nodes and was contained only in her right breast. She underwent 5 chemotherapy treatments and then a mastectomy and radiation treatments. She was in remission for almost five years. When she went in for the checkup that would have declared her officially cancer free, they discovered bone cancer in her femur. Two years later we found an area of activity in her spine. Through her I learned true love, dedication, and perseverance. She now takes chemo medication in pill form every day along with a barrage of other medications. This is NOT a cure. This is NOT what we hoped for. And this is NOT why I ride.

I ride for my grandmother. I ride for my grandmother to help ease her suffering. I ride for my grandmother to give back to her some of the support she has given me. I ride for my grandmother to make her proud. I ride for HOPE for a future without this disease and for a true cure.

I am now a 21 year old Senior at THE University of Texas. While I am still struggling to find my place in the world, I have been able to find meaning through this amazing organization. It has provided for me the therapy I didn't know I needed and introduced me to people who's strength I can't even begin to comprehend. So I ride not only for my own family, but for yours. For anyone you know who has been hurt by cancer, and for everyone you don't know. For all the people who think they are in this fight alone, and who struggle in silence for those they love. You are not alone.