About Me

Profile

About:

Hello! My name is Brandon Ortiz, and I am a third year majoring in Public Health at the University of Texas. I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas by my wonderful parents Carlos and Benita Ortiz. My parents are always willing to do without, just so my brother and I can benefit from their selflessness. Then there is my brother, Bruce, he recently graduated from UT. Thankfully he has found a job in Austin, sparing me a broken heart from his absence. In my 21 years, I have learned to value and strengthen the relationships I share with my family. They are my teachers and inspiration to fulfill every dream I have. I have a strong passion for UT Football and cycling. Fitness has become a major part of my happiness. I value my health above most things and I believe being fit opens windows to exploration and longevity. My goals in life are to attend medical school, maintain a close relationship with my family, and be an advocate for progress in our society. After graduating college I hope to have made an impact in this world. No challenge is too great for our society, and I believe together we can end the suffering faced by people everyday.

Why I Ride

The day I was accepted into Texas 4000 I began to ask the important question, why do I ride? First of all, I ride for my Aunt Isabel who was diagnosed with cancer when I was in elementary school. She defeated cancer and is now a proud cancer survivor. However the question persists and I will always have to reexamine it. I hope to continuously shape this answer as I meet more cancer survivors and patients. As riders we hope to spread hope, knowledge, and charity in every encounter with people. The fight is ongoing and does not end when our loved ones are cured. The battle ends when we can successfully treat every cancer patient, and the word, terminal, becomes nonexistent.

My goal is to raise as much money as possible to support progress in medicine through research. I cannot express enough the importance of research. Every project, every discovery, and every dollar brings us one step closer to becoming more effective at battling cancer. I ride for those who are currently affected by cancer, I ride for those who are cancer survivors, I ride for those who have lost their battle to cancer, and I ride for the people who have lost loved ones. The list is always growing, and I ride for a world where early detection is commonplace and no person has to ponder his or her final days on this beautiful planet.