About Me

Profile

About: My name is Renee and I'm a junior at UT majoring in Plan II and Urban Studies. I’m a native Houstonian, but my mom is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and my dad is from a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, so I grew up speaking both English and Portuguese at home. I've got two younger brothers, one of whom was born two years after I was - to the day.

On any given day, you're likely to find me outdoors, whether I'm studying, talking with friends, reading, or just walking around. Road trips are my latest obsession - I can't seem to get enough of that feeling of being constantly on the go, looking for new adventures in unexplored places. I'm also the proud mentor of a 6th grade girl at KIPP Austin College Prep. I get to see her once a week during her school day, which is easily a highlight of my week.

My weeks are measured in the people I spend them with, whether they're my Texas 4000 teammates, the student I mentor, or my closest friends. I get a lot of fulfillment from connecting with other people, which is part of the reason I'm so excited about Texas 4000. I can't wait to meet the people on our way to Alaska who will bring life to our mission and who will help fill our days.

Why I Ride

The two primary reasons I ride are for my grandfather and for a close family friend, both of whom passed away because of cancer.

My grandfather died from melanoma cancer when I was just a few years old. He loved to play tennis, so he spent a lot of time out in the Brazilian sun. Once the doctors discovered he had melanoma, it was already in a fairly advanced stage. I don’t know much about him, but I know he cared a lot about his family and that his death was difficult for my family.

Our close family friend was already a cancer survivor when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer several years ago and unfortunately, she passed away in April of 2012. She was strong, generous, kind, and a great mother. Anytime she was around, she was a constant source of joy for everyone. It wasn't until her funeral that I really understood the full impact that cancer can have on people's lives, family, and friends. Her funeral echoed the power and beauty of life she lived and the deep sense of loss was palpable.

My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer at a not-so-optimal later stage. Had the doctors detected his melanoma earlier, he might have been in a better position to fight it. This is an unfortunate reality of cancer, but it also one that can be more easily prevented with proper awareness about the importance of frequent screenings and early-detection.

Since joining Texas 4000, I've found many more reasons to ride. Other close people in my life have been affected by cancer. The reasons my teammates have for riding have now become my reasons for riding too. I also ride to help raise awareness about cancer prevention, an important part of Texas 4000's pillar of knowledge.

I ride because we can’t stop fighting cancer until we’ve beaten it.