About Me

Profile

About: https://m.facebook.com/LaylaNejadTexas4000?ref=bookmark

Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas to the most loving, dedicated parents I know, I grew up as the clumsy little Persian girl with the afro-puff pigtails who loved the outdoors, playing in the dirt, and doing what all the boys did. I was that one kid in a group of bikers who would somehow manage to knock everyone down and be the last one on two wheels (don't worry, my biking skills gradually improved over the last decade and a half). My brother is my best friend, and my family always comes first.

I am a fourth year biochemistry honors student at the University of Texas and work in an organic chemistry and biology research lab where I will have done enough work to write a senior thesis on protein interactions and binding, a central theme for pharmaceuticals and something I wish to continue studying beyond medical school.

I love to travel and spent the summer studying evolutionary biology in Seville, Spain. When I'm not working in the research lab, you can almost always find me burning through my budget at a local Austin coffee shop. Apparently I'm a horrible story teller - ask my roommates of 3 years - but I'm a sucker for story time and cannot wait to hear your story and those from all the people my team and I will meet along the ride.

Why I Ride

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to not have my own physical bout with cancer. I did, however, see it affect family members, and that was enough to spark my interest in curing it. My grandmother, a headstrong woman who raised five daughters and triplet sons, wasn't going to let cancer stop her from living her life until she was ready. She always encouraged chunky little three year old me to be the best. I use her words as fuel every time I get on my bike and will take them with me all the way to Alaska. My uncle had the same drive as my grandmother did and was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. He was only given 24 hours to live, but he outlived his sentence by five months before passing away during my first semester as a Texas 4000 rider. Like the two of them, I, too, will persevere. I can’t think of a better way to remember them than by raising money to donate to the fight to end this disease.

I ride for my support system that is my family - especially my beloved grandmother and uncle. I ride for my dear friend's family who can't seem to catch a break from this disease, for all of my friends and their loved ones, for the patients currently fighting the battle, and for all those that have been affected in any way by cancer. I ride for those whom I will meet along the ride. Finally, I ride to raise money for more cancer research and to spread hope that a cure is coming - I ride so that no one will have to fear this disease anymore.