I am a senior electrical engineering student. I was born in San Francisco but my family moved Louisiana shortly after I was born. I grew up camping. Since before I can remember, we took extended camping trips in the Redwoods in California, in the Rockies in Colorado, and all over Texas and Louisiana. When I got a little older I joined Boy Scouts so I could camp more often. I started with the weekend camping trip, then moved to week long summer camp, then worked as a camp counselor. When I was 16, I took my first real backpacking trip, in the Southern Rockies. I put together another trip for my friends when I was 18. The best summer I have ever had (up until this summer of course!), was the summer I spent as a canoe guide in the Minnesota-Canada Boundary Waters. I didn't want the summer to be over; I never wanted to set foot indoors again! But life went on, and for four long years I went to college without a major outdoor adventure.

But I didn't want my next adventure to be self serving. One hot summer day in 2003, as I sat watching Lance win his 5th tour, I began to think about a bike trip. Lance had cancer, I had cancer. Lance made a difference through cycling and his foundation. I had always wanted to somehow be able to help cancer victims and their families. I had heard of college charity bike trips, and the idea began to come together...

The month after my 11th birthday, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had been feeling weak and easily fatigued for months before, but no one would have guessed it was cancer.

Having cancer is tough for anyone, but facing mortality as child is especially frightening. Seeing your parents cry (mine were remarkably brave and didn't show me tears more than once or twice) is scary. Seeing children your age with heads shiny bald and patchworked with scars from surgeries is heartbreaking.

I founded Texas 4000 for Cancer to make a differnce in the lives of those who struggle with this terrible disease by raising money for cancer research; to provide hope to those people and their families by showing them that there is life after cancer; to educate communities across the continent about how they can detect and prevent cancer.

I am truly grateful for all of the people who have volunteered to take part in this endeavor. Our team, who started out a group of strangers, now strives together for a common goal. People from all walks of life, from all different backgrounds, have joined and are now working tirelessly to make this ride a success. We want to show the world our dedication to this cause and inspire all who meet us or see us to take up arms in the war on cancer.

I dedicate my ride to those who have been taken by cancer:

Mr. JJ Price, one of the best friends I ever had;

Rev. Ron Davis, my pastor from when I was in diapers til when I was in college;

Mr. Lenny Sanger, a kind and good man;

My Grandmother, Georgia Condit.

...And to those who are fighting cancer, especially:

My Aunt Carmen Jackson, breast cancer;

My friend Mr. Jimmy Soileau, colon cancer.