I was born and raised in El Salvador, but I spent several summers in South California. I moved to Austin, TX on August 03 to study Mechanical Engineering and Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

I have always enjoyed sports. When I was a kid, I played soccer, later I practiced Kung-fu and yoga, and now I am trying to get back into Kung-fu. I have always loved being outdoors as well. I appreciate my surroundings, and try to enjoy every detail of them; when you really notice the beauty and greatness around, you can even feel a part of it. Cycling seems to be a great sport; you get to challenge yourself and be alone in your mind, but also work as a team, and it is a great way to see and interact in a more personal way with your surroundings.

I love Texas. It has become my new home, it is where I have worked hard to achieve several goals and several recognitions, it is where most my friends are, and it is the place where I have made a life for myself. Besides Texas 4000 and school, I am also a member of The Texas Cowboys and Student Government. As you can see, things might get a little busy for me sometimes, but I always try to make time to enjoy the different attractions in Austin.

After my success at UT and looking within myself, I know that I have become a more responsible person. I appreciate life, I see the world in a different way, and I have also acquired skills that will help me fulfill my future goals and dreams. When I first came it was very hard though, a new and strange place where I knew no one. I even came too late for international student orientation, which just made it worse. It was then, when I most needed help, that I met a very angelical person who was very special to me, my grandmother's cousin who lived in Austin. Sadly, I only had the chance to enjoy her company for my first 7 months here; she passed away to a better life on January 04; but in so little time I was able to care so much for her. She was so special to me. I felt cancer took away the time we should have had together; it was really unfair. She went to a better life, but because of cancer all of us here lost the blessing of her company. It is for her, for all those others who cannot ride, and for all those others who will be able to train and ride thanks to what Texas 4000 is doing, that I train and ride.

I truly feel T4K will be a unique, once in a lifetime experience. It will not only make a huge difference in the world around me but it will in me too. It is one of those great adventures that not many people get to do, and I feel blessed to be a part of it.

J

Cancer is a disease that kills thousands of people and affects many more. I believe that cancer should be battled not only by the researchers and scientist who are trying to develop new ways to fight it and even cure it. I am a big supporter of a healthy lifestyle and I believe a healthy lifestyle can prevent and help many types of cancer. People not only need to be educated about cancer, the research going on, its effects, and how to be treated, but also about ways to prevent it when possible. A healthy diet, exercise, stress relief activities, etc. are just some of the ways people can lower their risk of acquiring most types of cancer. In summary, both research and development of new technologies and education about cancer and healthy living are very important in the fight against this disease.

I believe Texas 4000 does a perfect job helping to fight cancer, not only raising money to support research but also raising awareness and educating people about cancer. It is a great honor and a big joy to be a part of an organization that makes such a huge difference in our world.