Profile

About: I was born and raised in Wimberley, Texas, where I spent my childhood exploring the endless hills and rivers. I was lucky. At age 16, I obtained my GED and worked full time for two years in the construction industry where I was able to save enough money to travel to New Zealand by age 18. I spent three months hitchhiking from farm to farm and volunteering my labor in exchange for room and board. After returning home, I continued my career as a carpenter until I was 19 during which time I hiked the 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in 2002.
By the time I turned 20, I had once again earned enough money to travel to Central America where I spent five months. I traveled though Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras where I obtained my Dive Master Certification on the Island of Utila.
After studying at ACC for two years, I spent two and a half months in Peru this summer where I took two anthropology courses, hiked through the Cordillera Huayhuash and Blanca, and explored countless ruins. I transferred to UT this fall and plan to finish my degree in Spanish Language Teaching.

Why I Ride

Cancer affects millions of people making it one of humanity's greatest challenges. I believe that educating people is the best way to win the fight. The better educated people are regarding the types and causes of cancer, the more likely they are to fund research, support legislation, and take preventative measures against this disease in the daily habits of themselves and their children. Donating money helps, but informing those around you may be even more effective. The collective support of the people wields more power than all the money in the world, for without us there is no cure, no effort, and no purpose. In the day and age we live in, money is an extremely necessary tool in the fight against cancer. When wielded by a team of dedicated individuals, such as Texas 4000, this tool (money) may be utilized to its fullest extent. I agree that fighting cancer directly is important, but fighting it preventively should not be overlooked either. The more we learn about this disease and the more we know about its origin, the more we can do to prevent it from forming in the first place. Early detection can save lives, so it is important to fund research, which further develops means to fight the problem and prevent it from growing.