I have always been a competitor and an athlete. Being involved in team sports has helped define my personality as a leader and a person who strives for constant growth. I began playing baseball at the age of seven and played competitively on select clubs until I graduated from Conroe High School in Conroe, TX. During high school I enjoyed a few other sports such as football, basketball, and track. After my first two weeks of college at The University of Texas, I realized that it was vital that I find a team for my college career. I fell in love with a new sport, rugby, and Iā??ve been playing and improving my game ever since. After just over five years, I have played with three teams including the university team and a couple of menā??s teams. Along with team sports, I love outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, wake boarding, bike riding, and rock climbing. When I can afford the time and money, I love to snowboard, skydive, and scuba dive. In between all of this adventure I play my guitars and write music.

Iā??ve been studying aerospace engineering as a major, and business foundations as a minor, for the past 5 years here at UT. But my dream is to pilot aircraft for a living. I feel that my love for travel and adventure would be better nurtured as a pilot than as an engineer; however, I do intend to spend some time working in the engineering industry before pursuing my dream.

I share my time and passions with friends and family because, what is life without them?

My life has been a blessing, and I am certain that I have taken it for granted for far too long. Throughout my life I have witnessed several family membersā?? battle cancer. I often think to myself how amazingly strong these people are and how incredibly inspirational they have been to me. After going through such an experience, I imagine that life must be the most beautiful and joyous gift. My cousin, Nicole, who has always been like a sister to me, most recently won the battle against cancer. I have never seen so much strength and perseverance and hope in such a small package. She is just given birth to a baby girl, Pheonix, on November 30.

In my childhood, my Grandpa Ray was diagnosed with stomach cancer. After a gruelling fight, this war veteran won the most difficult battle of his life. I was very young then, but I remember vividly the pain and fear among my family members, especially my Grandma Jeanie. They just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

One person that I loved very much did not win the fight, however. My Grandpa Richard passed away during the Christmas holidays of 2003 while I was on a snowboarding trip in Colorado. I remember feeling so sad, guilty, and helpless because I was so far away from my family. I feel fortunate and comforted, however, to know that I spent the last of his ā??goodā? days visiting him in Chicago. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 just after I spent an incredible week with him touring the windy city and just hanging out with him.

I would like to dedicate this trans-continental ride to Nicole, Grandpa Ray, and Grandpa Rick. To me, the ride represents the endurance of a long and difficult road, often times painful, and I hope that at the end I obtain a new outlook on life through changed eyes. I feel it is important to give back to the oneā??s I love, and also to those who I donā??t know that have endured similar roads. Through the Texas 4000, I would like to spread cancer awareness and help raise funds for cancer research as a testament to those who have overcome and to those who have fallen.