About Me

Profile

About: In my twenty-three years I have seen a great deal of this country and along the way have met some truly amazing people. Originally from Pennsylvania, I was raised in the “small” town of Mansfield, Texas with my summers spent with family on the Jersey Shore. I spent my first two years of college as a Husky at The University of Washington in Seattle. A decision I took lightly at the time, which resulted in the two most defining years of my life. On occasion I can still be found cheering on my Dawgs in purple and gold.

Currently I am a senior studying computer science at The University of Texas at Austin with plans to graduate in May 2015 right before we set off for Alaska. In the meantime I keep myself busy as a Software-Development Intern at IBM, Director of Philanthropy for the Texas Interfraternity Council and involved member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. After the ride I plan to work for IBM or another large corporation in a role that allows me to travel and see the world.

In all the cities I have lived Austin is quickly becoming my favorite. I’m a person that loves the outdoors, despite my major, and not many things can compare to a spring day at Zilker Park or Lady Bird Lake in summer. Austin is the most bicycle friendly city in Texas, which is important because I am rarely ever seen without my bike. Ever since my Seattle days biking has been my biggest hobby, a trait I will blame on my constant attempts to discover if biking in the rain will leave you more or less wet than walking in it.

I am a firm believer that life is more about the journey than the destination. I make every effort to live each day to it’s full potential which is why I am beyond excited to begin this Texas 4000 adventure. Along the way to Alaska my teammates and I will touch the lives of those affected by cancer and bring hope to those who need it most. I want to close with a favorite quote of mine which describes not only my 2015 Texas 4000 team, but our overarching goal of ending cancer and why we need your help to do it:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
-African Proverb

Why I Ride

I ride for my Grandfather, John “Jack” Riley, one of the greatest men I have ever known. Grandpa Jack shared my love for bicycles. He continued to ride every day into his early 80’s and every Sunday morning it was Jack’s old white bike propped against the church door inviting everyone in to mass. Grandpa Jack was a family man who put 5 children through college on a traveling salesman’s income. He was a spiritual man who lent his spare time to the local church and food bank. He loved puzzles and to read, but above all he loved his wife of more than 50 years. Towards the end of my Grandmother’s life Jack spent every waking moment caring for his ailing wife. It was only when she had left us that he began to consider his own health, but by then it was too late.

In those years of selfless caring for his wife he was harboring a silent killer. By the time of its diagnosis Jack’s colon cancer had already progressed to stage 4, the most advanced stage, and begun to spread throughout his body. Grandpa Jack fought his cancer with same resolve with which he approached everything in life. Even on his hardest days he never gave up: “It’s like a roller coaster, you know, one day you’re good and one day you’re bad. Today was a bad day, but everything worked out ok.” In addition to his treatment, I like to believe that it was his unwavering sense of optimism that drove the cancer into remission. Just like that, less than two years after an ominous diagnosis, Jack was back out on his bicycle.

I wish that this was the happy ending to Jack’s story, but like so many stories involving cancer this was not the case. Less than a year after receiving a clean bill of health, Jack’s cancer returned. His initial colon cancer had spread to his lungs and the outlook was even less optimistic than before. Again he fought the cancer with everything he had, but the second time around cancer proved to be too much for even the strongest of resolves. Less than a year after Jack’s cancer returned he was reunited with my Grandmother. His legacy lives on in all of the lives he touched, and even after his untimely departure his bicycle remained next to the church doors announcing that Jack Riley was inside one final time.

I ride for all those who have have known this terrible disease. I ride for my teammates whose unwavering strength and inspiring passion never ceases to amaze me. I ride for the countless lives we will touch on our way to Alaska. I ride for the day we will finally put an end to cancer.