I saw a homeless man the other day holding a sign that said, “You can get everything you want, but still hate your life.” Such a simple statement, but so very true. All week I have been thinking about those people in my life who are never satisfied. The ones who essentially have everything they […]

In just a little over 100 days, we’ll be leaving Austin, Texas and setting out for Anchorage, Alaska. It seems like just yesterday I saw the T4K poster for applications, while I was mindlessly sitting in the library. Of course, going to www.texas4000.org seemed more interesting than whatever it was I was ignoring at the […]

The wind is blowing against you at about 25mph but you’re only used to riding around 12mph, you can barely feel your fingers and toes in this freezing weather, and if you go up the hill any slower… you feel like you’ll start rolling backwards. What keeps you going? Better yet, what keeps a cancer […]

Today’s Texas 4000 guest speaker, Mike Thompson, was extremely inspirational and motivational. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be diagnosed with cancer once, never mind 4 times…and at such a young age. He courageously fought through each and every battle that came his way, not allowing failure to be an option. I […]

It is motivating and inspiring the unnoticed through transforming stories of anguish that provide desperation that sparks determination. College has been a change of pace for me ”“ new friends, new city, new school, new everything ”“ but it hasn’t sunk in until recently, in my senior year. I had always approached change with great […]

The Grisham family of Wasilla, AK are an inspiration to our team. Last summer, they hosted in nearby Palmer, despite Barb’s poor condition brought on by three and a half years of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and pneumonia. According to 2010 rider Kathryn Flowers, Barb and her husband, Dan, were remarkably supportive of the team and open […]

Follow me on twitter!!!! I’ll be posting more about T4K, interests, my daily life, motivation, and just how I’m a normal person trying to make the world a better place. Tweets by AbrantesMelissa Woo Hoo!!!

Tonight Mike Thompson, a 4 time cancer survivor stopped by to tell us his story. Honestly, I was blown away. Funny, motivational, strong, all these words describe him. I took several quotes from him that I want to implement (in a stronger way)in my life. “Only thing you can change is your attitude.” “Only promote […]

Mikey’s half smile shows brighter than any. With a nervous energy (the result of wielding a heart too large for one man) Mikey recounts his horrifying medical history to a room of anxious ears. We all hear him. He smiles his half toothed smile, brighter than any, as he tells of his torture-ridden years. The […]

Two things happened to me that led me to be at my computer typing this at this very moment. 1. I got an email. 2. I got a flyer. These two coincidences were seemingly unrelated until late September of 2010. I moved into a new apartment complex in Crestview in central Austin. Sorry West Campus […]