Profile

About: My name is Gabriela Torres and I am from Edcouch, a very small town in deep South Texas. I come from a large family made up of my four beautiful sisters, one amazing brother, and two brilliant nephews, all who have been extremely supportive of my outrageous ideas and goals. Life has always been exciting because of them and I feel so fortunate that I will forever have a shoulder to lean on.

I am the daughter of two hard working parents that migrated to the United Stated from México in the late 1980s. They left the pueblo they loved, and came to the United States with nothing but four children. Since 1996 they have owned and operated a bakery where my father specializes in the art of making Mexican sweet bread. He works 365 days a year, never taking a day off. With both my parents not being recipients of their high school diploma, they value education and because of them, I truly believe that the learning process shines light on a deeper reality about ourselves. My father’s passion for politics, law, and human rights and my mother’s constant encouragement to pursue anything that I love inspires me to step out of my comfort zone to push and challenge myself every day. My parents’ story and struggle has taught me the importance of hard work and passion.

Currently, I am a simultaneous major, studying Latin American Studies and Photojournalism. I am strongly passionate about social inequality, inequity, human rights, immigration, and giving back to communities and populations that are not as fortunate as I am. UT has really given me the chance to exercise these passions through all the different opportunities it offers. Through my love for making photographs, I am able to give light to these issues that should not be underrepresented in our society.

Why I Ride

I have seen what cancer can do to people’s lives and I am reminded of its effects every day. My grandfather passed away in Rio Bravo, México due to lung cancer. His cause of death was determined after he passed. Seeing him suffer the way that he did was a nightmare. No human being should go through that without getting treated, let alone not knowing. We made countless visits to different hospitals and medical centers, and not once were we ever told there had been complications with his body. The inequity that I saw in the healthcare system in México those last years of his life made a really big impact on my own.

On February 25, 2012, my dearest friend on the 2012 Texas 4000 team was taken by the very disease that we are fighting: cancer. His loss is still a wound that is far too profound. I met Ruel at our first Texas 4000 meeting and we immediately got along. Like him, I love life, and we talked about everything imaginable together. We shared so many conversations and secrets that allowed us to become incredibly close. He is my brother, my strength, my ride dedication since day 1, and my light. The world needed Ruel. I ride for him and his family every single time I get on my bike. He inspires me to be a better person every day. I will always live and breathe for him.

I come from a town who’s education system and the norms of the community has fostered a young community of its own that not only lacks inspiration, but lacks leaders to inspire them. I ride for the youth in Edcouch-Elsa. I have had the opportunity to work with them since I was a high school student as a peer, when I graduated as a tutor, and currently as a mentor. These students have so much potential and are in need of people who believe in their abilities and their future. So, I ride for you. We come from the same place. We are no different. If I can do this, you can do anything.

In life, we always face different kinds of battles. Whether it is fighting to be the first of your family to graduate high school and pursue higher education, or that your mother was just diagnosed with cancer and you feel completely alone, whether it be that you’re fighting for your own life, or that you’re simply trying to pedal up the steepest hill you’ve ever faced. We can sit in a corner, cry, and do nothing about it, or we can fight it. Seventy-three students, including myself, have gotten up...and today, we are letting you know that you are not fighting this battle alone. We are all 4000 miles away from beating our battle, and we cannot take the easy way out. We have to fight. I am here to fight for you.

I ride for all cancer patients, and all other patients in general, that cannot receive the proper medical treatment in México, and in most of Latin America.

I ride for the memory of my grandparents, Papá Salud, whom cancer claimed, and Mamá Alberta, who never received adequate health care. I ride to keep both of their struggles alive.

I ride for Ruel Alexander Bobet. You would have won your battle. I am sure of it. I’m taking you to Alaska.

I ride for those who would, but can’t. I ride for the day we are victorious in the battle against cancer.