About Me

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About:

The majority of my childhood was spent dangling from monkey bars, perfecting the art of go-kart racing (Mario Kart Nintendo 64 style), re-watching the original Toy Story, and annoying the heck out of my older brother. Time well spent if you ask me. I was born in downtown Houston in 1992 and raised just a few miles south. My parents worked extremely hard to make sure my brother and I had an enjoyable childhood. I’ve reflected a lot on the sacrifices they made so that I could be where I am today and found that there is simply no love more selfless than a parent’s love for their child. My parents are my heroes. Regardless of whether or not he knows it, I’ve always looked up to my brother. He is a trailblazer and helped me realize my talent and potential by exhibiting his own. They have all inspired me and supported my unthinkable endeavours. They molded me into the young lady you see before you and I am proud of who I have become; yet, at the same time, I am constantly striving to be better. One way I do this is by continuously devoting my time and energy to something bigger than myself. Although the sports and organizations have changed over the years, I have always had a passion for challenging myself, leading an active lifestyle, and most importantly, being a part of a team. The experiences I have had range from visiting Camp Misty Meadows with Troop 1352 as a young girl scout, to competing with my high school volleyball and track teams during the week and Deobbaitee in various forensics and debate tournaments on the weekends. Most recently I've found satisfaction as a member of the Texas Women’s Rugby team and now as a LIVESTRONG Texas 4000 cyclist. This team combines a handful of my passions. I believe in our mission and the potential we have to rid our world of cancer. I believe we can and will make a difference in the lives of others. Despite my best efforts, my time here at the great University of Texas is winding down and by its end I want to know that I devoted my time in the best way possible. I can think of nothing better than spreading hope, knowledge and charity across North America.

Why I Ride

I ride for Beverly Lee Ross, known to me as “Granny”. Even though it’s been over a decade since her passing, she still remains one of the most influential people in my life. She was an incredible person. In fact, she was the sweetest little old lady I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, let alone being related to. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was too young to really understand. Besides the countless chemo and radiation treatments and a painful mastectomy, the unpleasant details of her fight are unknown to me. I haven’t since had the courage to force my mother to relive this difficult time in her life by explaining to me what the last chapter of my grandmother’s life looked like from an adult’s perspective. What I do know is that she fought with all her might until she couldn't fight anymore. Granny took her last breath just days after her 76th birthday in 2002. I wasn’t even 10 years old. I didn't know why or who or what was to blame, but I felt like the greatest gift I had ever been given had been stripped away for no apparent reason. As a nine-year-old little girl, my grandmother and mother were my everything— my whole world. Seeing them in so much pain had a devastating effect on me. It took years of grieving and maturing to understand that I hadn't completely lost her. She could never be taken away from me. She's in my blood. She's in my thoughts and in my dreams, and I'll always have our memories. She still lives in me and is a part of everything positive that I do. I keep her legacy alive everyday that I live and, I know she will match me pedal for pedal as I ride.

I ride for my mother, Carletta Ross Harris. Although she’s never had cancer, she is one of the fiercest cancer fighters I know. Colon cancer took the life of her father, Willie Ross, who I also ride for and less than twenty years later she lost her mother to breast cancer. I watched as she devoted her life to my grandmother’s recovery. She sacrificed so much as a caretaker and did it all with a smile. She is one of the strongest, most selfless and inspiring women I know and I’m so proud to call her “Mama”.

I also ride for Gabby Romero. Our love for volleyball is what connected us most. After a trying battle with Leukemia, she passed away in the fall of 2009. She was a great friend and teammate, and an inspiration to me and countless others.

Finally, I ride for anyone who has ever been affected by cancer in any way. The determining factor is not whether it ends in triumph or tragedy for us or our loved ones, but that we as cancer fighters, caretakers, family members and friends never give up. We must never stop fighting; we must continue spreading awareness and effective methods of prevention on our way to finding a cure that will stop this disease dead in its tracks.