Profile
- Route: Sierra
- Ride Year: 2019
- Hometown: Austin, TX
- School Year: Junior
- Major: Plan II/Biochemistry
- Email: ks.bangs1@gmail.com
About: Hi!! I’m Krista and thank you for visiting my page! I’m a rising Junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Biochemistry and Plan II Honors. At UT, I work and mentor in a biochemistry research lab, am a member of Texas Sweethearts, mentor freshman Plan II students, and tutor High School seniors through Plan II’s Plan Tutoring program. I’m proud and excited to announce that I will be riding to Alaska as a part of the Texas 4000 2019 team!
Why I Ride
I was motivated to join Texas 4000 by the recent loss of a close family friend, Kirk McIntosh. Kirk and Diana, his wife, were two of my parents first friends when they moved to Austin. Our families have been close ever since, celebrating Christmas and New Years together almost every year. I consider them like a second family. Last June, Kirk passed away from an 18-month battle with Leukemia. Diana also previously battled breast cancer and is thankfully healthy today. I ride for their entire family. For Diana for fighting breast cancer and being with Kirk through his diagnosis and treatment. I ride for Julia and Victor, Kirk and Diana’s children, who watched both their parents fight cancer. I ride for their extended family and friends who have been there for them during these tough times.
I have felt helpless throughout Kirk’s fight against Leukemia and when I hear stories of those who have fought or are currently fighting cancer. With the opportunity Texas 4000 gives UT students to share hope, knowledge, and charity in the fight against cancer, I felt like I had the ability to do something. I finally had a chance to help the McIntosh’s and all the other families of those affected by cancer. I ride to encourage others to exercise their ability to contribute to a cause, cancer related or not, and to always look for ways to help others.