About Me

Profile

About: My name is Stephanie but everyone calls me Steph. I was born and raised in Mexico City and moved to Austin Texas four years ago. I come from a family of five who mean the world to me. They have helped me achieve the unachievable and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My hobbies include photography, film, reading satirical books, hunting for dollar CD’s at Half Price Books, kayaking and people watching at coffee shops, (yes, I consider that a hobby). Traveling the world and learning from other cultures has been on my mind for years and hopefully one day I will have the chance to do it. I am very adventure driven and I am always up for doing stuff outdoors. I am a fourth year student in the College of Communications majoring in Advertising and currently an intern with The LIVESTRONG Foundation.

Why I Ride

Since I joined Texas 4000 I realized there are many reasons why I am doing this crazy 4,500 miles bike ride. Some are not Cancer related, some are about loss and goodbyes.

In 2009 I experienced my first loss. It was painful and somewhat inexplicable. I had a hard time processing it & I still have a hard time accepting it. My uncle passed away from complications brought by diabetes, a sudden heart attack. Till this day I am unable to talk about it. Mostly because I feel there wasn't closure for me. I was still living in Mexico City and I wasn't allowed to fly with my mom to San Antonio for his funeral. Instead, my brother Chris flew with my mom to keep her company. To this day I feel that I should have been there. To say goodbye, to tell him how much I loved him and cherished every second I got to spend with him. He is (was) my only uncle and as my only uncle he was amazing. He loved to read, he had strong morals and life views, he was very funny, an amazing singer, and loved his chicken pot pie and didn't mind eating cereal with cranberry juice instead of milk. I remember this one time we were saying our goodbyes at the airport, at the time all he could see were shadows, he had lost his eye site earlier in the year. He grabbed me by the shoulders and said “I can see that beautiful white smile of yours. You are an angel.” That is the most vivid memory I have of him. He was wearing his black leather jacket and a hat. He looked very handsome. I remember him so well, like if his presence is still with us. It’s been hard to accept his death, and Texas 4000 has made him more alive to me than ever. When I picked up the bike that will take me all the way from Austin Texas to Anchorage Alaska, I decided to name her Sally in memory of my uncle Salvador aka. Sal. I think it is the perfect way forme to finally say goodbye. To show him how much I loved him and remember him.

My grandfather Miguel was my second loss. He was 90 years old and full of life. Even during his last years of life his silliness was still alive. Although he didn't pass away from Cancer but old age, he had prostate cancer till his last day of life. I ride to keep his memory alive because my grandfather was a beautiful man full of joy and a very generous heart. I ride for my grandmother Jovita. A true fighter who at her old age beat Cancer and keeps trucking along. I ride for my brothers, my nephew and my parents who have seen me grow and become the woman that I am today.

Last but not least I ride for all the people who I meet and who share their Cancer stories with me, for those who fight to live, and for a Cancer free future. I am part of Texas 4000 to live with a purpose, to learn from others and to get people’s attention to help us fight against a monster that has been taking many for far too long. I am here to feel alive.