Profile

About: I'm a senior chemistry major from Houston, TX. Outside of Texas 4000, I enjoy doing research in lab and finding good places to run around Austin.

Why I Ride

Cancer is something that has affected my close friends and family greatly. I have also seen first-hand the harsh reality of what cancer does to people. My first cousin is currently fighting ovarian cancer, and I have felt powerless to help her. She is the closest family I have on my mother’s side and has been there to support us through difficult times and is a never-ending source of laughs. Seeing her go through treatment is extremely difficult especially because I know she wants so much more out of life, and she deserves it. One of my family’s closest friends has also been fighting a long battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, and has been fighting hard ever since. She has known me since I was a little kid, and all four of her daughters were my babysitters at different times when I was growing up. She is both one of the sweetest and strongest people I have ever met. Her faith and drive to keep moving forward has been inspiring throughout her fight. She has fought the disease with dignity and grace, and I cannot wait to see the day she wins. During the summer after my freshman year of college, I was in an education program at MD Anderson. I shadowed many different doctors in both inpatient and outpatient settings and got to see cutting-edge research from leaders in their fields. I entered the program with an almost cavalier attitude, knowing that I was going to see the great doctors and nurses on the front lines curing patients. The first doctor who I was shadowing was doing inpatient rounds, and we entered the room of a middle-aged woman who was with her family. I stood there as the doctor told her that they had tried everything they could to fight the disease, but that it had not been enough. This was a stark reality check. Seeing the cases like that made and feeling the shock when reality hit me made me realize how ugly of a fight cancer is, and how much I wanted to change it. I ride so that the people I love can live better lives, and to help those diagnosed with cancer in the fight.