Our Program

Mission


Texas 4000’s mission is to cultivate student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer.

We share hope, knowledge, and charity through leadership development, grantmaking, and our cornerstone event, a 4,000+ mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage.

We share HOPE by letting those touched by cancer know we are riding for them and fighting for a world without cancer.

We share KNOWLEDGE by bringing life-saving information about cancer prevention to communities and providing leadership development training to tomorrow’s leaders.

We share CHARITY by contributing to cancer research and support services while developing the next generation of volunteers and philanthropists. Texas 4000 envisions a world where all students can become leaders in creating a cancer-free future.

Leadership Development


2023 RidersEvery year Texas 4000 competitively selects University of Texas students for an 18-month program designed to cultivate the next generation to lead the fight against cancer. Texas 4000 empowers each student to raise $5,000, ride 2,000 training miles with his/her team, volunteer in the community, and play an active role in planning  the ride. We look for students with a passion to fight cancer, who can serve as an ambassador for the organization, previous organizational involvement, good communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to work well with a team. Previous cycling experience is not a requirement, and the fundraising, training, and volunteering all take place before the summer ride even begins.

Summer Ride


Our 70-day ride travels multiple routes from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska—the Texas 4000 summer ride is the World’s Longest Annual Charity Bike Ride.

Each rider logs more than 4,000 riding miles throughout the ride. The riders arrange all accommodations in advance during the training year, relying on the generosity of host families, churches, and schools for shelter, and are prepared to camp when housing is not available.

Riders are self-sufficient, rotating the duties of driving support vehicles, setting up rest stops, securing food donations, and preparing meals.

Messages of prevention and early detection are shared with communities large and small, and community members can sign the team’s dedication banner, which riders carry on their journey to Alaska.

Wherever they are along the journey, the riders begin their day with a Ride Dedication Circle to reflect on their shared mission to fight cancer.

Grantmaking



Provided that T4K is able to raise enough funds and contain costs, the organization awards grants to organizations focusing on cancer research or support services. Established requirements for grantees include involvement and investment in the Texas 4000 program as well as the ability of the grant to make a significant relative impact. The grant review committee comprises the most recent alum riders, previous alums, Board members, staff, and community members.

Examples of previous Texas 4000 grants include:

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center (Distinguished Professorship Endowment, Center for Molecular Markers, Center for Targeted Therapy, and Children’s Cancer Hospital)
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Research grants including a multiple Myeloma gene sequencing project)
  • University of Texas at Austin Department of Biomedical Engineering (numerous research seed grants, Established Texas 4000 Endowment)
  • University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School (Research seed grants and funding for Blood Cancer Research and Innovation: The Hematologic Malignancy (Blood Cancer) Program)
  • Brent’s Place (Providing living accommodations for immune-compromised children undergoing cancer treatment)

We rely on charitable giving to support all aspects of Texas 4000 and are happy to provide detailed financial information upon request.

Equity and Inclusion Statement


Texas 4000 for Cancer is an equal opportunity, nonprofit organization that strives to cultivate a community of hardworking and passionate student leaders. Along with their cornerstone 4000+ mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage, these University of Texas at Austin students are committed to engaging communities in the fight against cancer by spreading hope, knowledge, and charity as they strive towards creating a cancer-free future.

Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy:

Texas 4000 for Cancer has and maintains a zero tolerance policy for any form of discrimination, mistreatment, or hate on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or other forms of identity.

This policy applies to the recruitment period, application process, and to all areas of participation with the organization, including but not limited to the summer ride, meetings, training, and volunteer events.

Transparency in the Application Process:

In selecting riders for the upcoming teams, Texas 4000 for Cancer’s recruitment committee and application assessment teams are committed to ensuring that each applicant has an equal opportunity to apply and a fair assessment of their application. In grading the application, the organization conducts a blind read of the written responses meaning that the identity of the applicant is unknown to the reviewers. In addition, the application is reviewed by multiple members of the application assessment team, including individuals of diverse backgrounds (gender, alumni ride year, ethnicity), before a decision is made.