Although my four years on the east coast have begun to turn me into an easterner, I promise I'm still a St. Louis midwesterner at heart! I'm an English major at Yale, although I dream of running away to Germany next year to teach, and of ultimately studying architecture when I make my way back to the states. When I'm not frantically trying to convince people to hire me for next year, or lugging myself out of bed to get in shape for nine weeks welded to a bike seat, I spend my time set designing here for the local theaters. I used to dive as well, and for all of you in sunny Texas, I dream about your weather and your pools from the slushy and snowy side of the country!

I am incredibly lucky that I have not lost someone to cancer, as many of the riders on this trip have. I'm doing this ride for the survivors I know; I want everyone to be so lucky as to know survivors rather than victims. Several years ago, the parent of one of my best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer and recovered thanks to incredibly early detection. Because of breast cancer walks, extensive publicity, and ongoing research, many more women are aware of breast cancer, and I am so excited to have the chance to spread that kind of awareness about all forms of cancer. By myself, I would never have the ability to meet, talk to or influence nearly as many people, or raise nearly as much money as I will be able to on this bike trip. And strapping myself into a bike and literally pounding my way through the country is such an active way to help fight!