About Me

Profile

About: My name is Ross McGarity. I am a junior pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree, with a Business Foundations certificate. Growing up, I moved all over the world due to my father’s work with IBM. I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and I lived in various places in the United States between the ages of two months to about when I was four years old, including: Boca Raton, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina. From Charlotte we moved to Singapore for two years and then moved on to Melbourne, Australia, where we lived for around six years. From Melbourne we then moved to Austin, Texas, where I lived out the rest of my middle and high school career.

From the time I lived in Singapore until now I have always been involved in a sport of some kind. I have participated in sports from baseball, soccer, basketball, track & field, cross country, and lastly but certainly not least ultimate Frisbee. The sports that I have participated in most competitively are track, cross country, and ultimate Frisbee, all of which I started in high school, but ultimate Frisbee I have carried on into college. I ran track for three years and cross-country for four, but I was never that all-star runner. Throughout my high school running career, I had to work extremely hard to keep up with the better runners. Even though I was not the best, I always worked to be the best I could be, and to me just getting that personal best satisfied me. I have found that I have always been the type to give anything my all, whether it is for me, or especially for someone else.

Why I Ride

I ride for multiple different people. The reason for this is because they are all amazing in their own way, but all have had the misfortune of being diagnosed with cancer. They each deserve this dedication as well as anyone ever touched by cancer.

The first was one of the smartest people I ever met. Her name was Beverly Elizabeth “Bee” English. I don't think I ever saw someone read as fast as she did and actually know exactly what she was reading. She had two bachelors and two masters degrees and was working on a her doctorate. I met her when she was my teacher at Lake Travis High School. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor the year I was in her class in 2008 and she had to stop working. Two years later she passed away. She was such an intelligent and driven person, and someone I am happy to have learned from. That is why I ride for Bee English.

Secondly, I ride for my grandmother, Ruthie. She has fought and survived cancer twice! The first time, when I was very young, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was too young and unaware at that age to know much about the situation, but all I can say is that I was so happy she was okay. When I was around that age, my memories with Ruthie always incorporated me going out with her to feed the turkeys, which would always chase my sister and me in our bright pajamas. The second time she fought cancer I was definitely old enough to understand how scary the situation was. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, but she was so positive throughout the whole process. I am grateful to say that Ruthie beat cancer twice!!

Next, I ride for my Uncle Clay and Aunt Jackie. They are probably the best couple I have ever met, they are always so happy and upbeat, and they bring out the best in everyone in my family. I ride for them because the both have been diagnosed with cancer. Clay was diagnosed with kidney cancer, while Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer. But no matter what they have gone through they are always positive, genuine, and loving towards everyone around them. I am so happy to be lucky enough to call myself their nephew.

Lastly, I ride for my mom. It was within the two last years that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The day I found out I was terrified, but every day after that I could not be scared because of the optimistic attitude my mom had. She has always been a role model for my positivity, and I do not think there is a better example than how she handled everything during that scary time. Soon we found out that the cancer was still in its early stage and that was amazing news. In fact, it only took about five months for her to complete all her treatment. She is a survivor! I have always looked up to my mom for so many reasons. She has so many wonderful attributes that I strive to have as well! My friend, my role model, my mom, survived cancer, and I ride for her.

I have realized after multiple instances that came close to home for me that within these five people I saw four different types of cancer, and saw cancer itself six times. Cancer can affect anyone, whether it is the person who has it or someone close to them. That is the reason we must fight to protect our loved ones, protect our young, protect our elders, and protect our neighbors. Cancer is something we are all fighting to cure, and for that reason I not only ride for these amazing people, but I ride for everyone anywhere who has ever had to deal with this terrible disease.