About Me

Profile

About: Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it’s safe to say my hometown is colder than yours. Having grown up in the coldest major city in the world, freezing cold temperatures and too much snow were a staple of my childhood. Whether I was skiing, skating or building a snowman in the front yard, the frigid winters are something I grew to enjoy. Needless to say, the heat here in Austin is something I’m still struggling to get used to.

Family is the most important thing in my life. I grew up in a family of four. My mother, Florence, is retired after a successful career in the IT industry and now splits her time between Winnipeg and San Antonio, where she loves to play tennis and spend time in her garden. My father, Serge, finally retired at the end of 2014 after working more than 40 years for the provincial government of Manitoba. He plans to spend his new-found free time cycling, playing tennis, cross-country skiing and doing whatever he can to stay active. Lastly, my sister, Malissa. At the age of 32, she is the hardest working person I have ever been around. Mal, as she is known in our family, is currently a director of risk consulting at PwC, a captain on the top coed ultimate frisbee team in Canada and recently rebuilt a beautiful home in downtown Toronto.

For more than two years now, and throughout my Texas 4000 journey, I have also had the support of my incredible girlfriend, Sharaya. A Canadian too, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 2014 and currently works as a marketing manager at a mid-size software company in downtown Toronto. Being in a (super) long distance relationship is tough, but her awesome letters make it a lot easier. At the end of the ride, we plan to close the 1,600-mile gap that currently separates us.

As for myself, I eat, sleep and breathe sports. I am currently a senior studying public relations after taking the 2012-2013 school year off to intern in Canada. When I’m not studying, I spend my time as a sports journalist working for The Dallas Morning News, watching sports or playing sports. Aside from obviously being a huge Longhorn fan, I am an avid San Francisco 49ers, Toronto Blue Jays and Winnipeg Jets fan. Outside the world of sports, I enjoy country music, being on the water and traveling. While many people say that college is the best time of your life, I personally cannot wait for retirement.

Why I Ride

I ride for my best friend and role model, my grandmother. Having been raised by parents who preached a family-first lifestyle, I loved nothing more than spending time with Grandma Vicky. While both my parents were working to provide for our family, my grandmother often took care of me throughout my younger years. Whether she was teaching me to play cribbage, showing me how to do the dishes or helping me learn to ride my bike, she was always pushing me to improve and picking me up when I would fall down (literally). She is the strongest woman I have ever been around, but even she couldn’t handle the terrible evil we call cancer.

I ride to develop cancer research technology so that others don’t have to struggle through the pain and suffering that my grandmother, and so many other beautiful people, have had to go through.

I ride because I can, and for those who can’t. I have been blessed with good health and it is my goal to take advantage of my opportunity to better the world we live in. The challenge of a 4,500-mile bike ride pales in comparison to the battle that cancer patients face on a daily basis. But if this ride can make that battle any easier, it is worth it.

Whether you know someone who has lost their battle with cancer, is currently battling cancer, or lives each day with the fear of being diagnosed with the terminal illness without a cure, each of our lives is affected by it. I ride with the hope that one day, that won’t be the case.

I ride for the cure.