Profile

About: I am currently a senior at the University of Texas at Austin. I was born and raised in San Antonio, but my father and stepmother now live in Las Vegas. My one brother, Cliff, is a writer living in New York City.

Why I Ride

I realized at a young age that the fight against cancer often follows a stark path. I was four years old when doctors first discovered a malignant tumor in my mother's brain. I was eight when Mom passed away on September 8, 1994.

Although I was too young to fully understand Mom's illness, I was old enough to realize her struggle. I witnessed Mom lose complete independence in performing everyday activities like walking and eating as she underwent more cycles of chemotherapy. Mom spent the last months of her life at home on a large hospital bed that could only fit in the center of our dining room. As her weakening body became more dependent, Mom's fight against the brain tumor became our family's fight; the saying was entirely true: her cancer affected us all.

Even though Mom's fight was lost, I still have hope. As a member of team 2008 for Texas 4000 I will continue Mom's fight. I will raise money for cancer research and prevention, and by biking to Alaska I hope to demonstrate that although many paths seem stark and difficult, perseverance and communal support will make those paths traversable. Furthermore, I will bike in the memory of my mother, who continues to give me strength.