I went from igloo-building in the New Jersey snow to pan-frying in the hot Texas sun at the age of 8 years old.. That kind of environmental switch can take a toll on anybody, let alone a 3rd grader. My dad made the administrative decision that it would be a great idea for me to cut my hair down from ten inches to a mere two inches in anticipation of our move to Texas, since everybody said it was “too hot.” Our new home, Frisco, Texas, is where I eventually found my niche amongst a group of friends who valued life and curiosity the way I do. Somehow they saw past the unfortunate haircut.

I made the decision to graduate early from high school as a result of losing patience with the familiarity of high school life. Upon making the choice and coming to terms with the stress this would add to my life, I almost instantly developed a chronic hiccup. Doctors couldn’t seem to explain it, but I spent the next three years observing the correlation between the frequent hiccups and my stress level.

As a college student, I have come to be nothing but thrilled with my academic focus after a hiccup-filled year deciding what to do with my life. While finding my place within this enormous campus, I began to realize my strength as an individual with the help of caring professors, advisors, and friends - and just as quickly as they came, my hiccups disappeared. I hope to one day become a physician assistant and serve the under-served citizens of society. I believe strongly that my determination, tenacity, and feeling of responsibility for the care of others will enable me to carry out the esteemed task of being a Texas 4000 rider.

I ride for hope and strength. Without these two things, cancer patients would have no basis for a support system. When I was six years old, my grandfather passed away from colon cancer. I vividly recall the pain my family went through seeing him suffer and the constant prayers for a cure. That experience, even in my sheltered childhood bubble, has been an important factor in my decision to become a Texas 4000 rider.

Recently, my aunt in Egypt was also diagnosed with colon cancer. Because she is on the other side of the world, my understanding of the direct effects cancer has on a family unit has been limited. I quietly observed my family’s grief and pain, away from the harsh reality that comes with the disease. Fortunately, my aunt is now in remission. She put up a great fight and beat cancer with the aid of her family and friends. It’s truly amazing what a support system can accomplish. Some may say that without a strong connection to cancer, the ride might be “less real” for me, but that only motivates me more to raise awareness to find a cure.

That’s the whole point, isn’t it? Raising enough funds to facilitate research and find a cure to kick cancer out of our lives so no family has to go through that trauma again. Because the reality of it is, everybody will at one point be affected by cancer. I know that it runs in my family and that it’s only a matter of time before somebody dear to me is diagnosed. I’m not going to sit around and wait for it to happen. For this reason, Texas 4000 does not have a narrow audience in outreach. It applies to everybody- directly affected by cancer or not. This journey gives cancer patients and their caregivers something to hold on to – something to give them faith that things will soon change. I ride for the tens of thousands of people who die each day from cancer, with fervent hopes that this number decreases exponentially with our efforts.

We will not go down without a fight.