Profile
- Route: Sierra
- Ride Year: 2022
- Hometown: Kingwood, TX
- School Year: Senior
- Major: Biology
About:
Hey y’all! I’m Lynsey and I am a 4th year biology student from Kingwood, Texas in the suburbs of Houston (a fake Houstonian, I know). I’ll be applying to Physician Assistant school after graduation this May with my degree in Biology and a certificate in Children & Health through the Bridging Disciplines Program here at UT. In my career, I would like to focus on preventative medicine and early detection in the pediatric field.
During my time in college, I have been a small group leader for a freshman outreach ministry called John 15 as well as a weekend retreat called Longhorn Awakening at the University Catholic Center. Some other fun facts about me are:
1) I like to foster animals in my free time and have fostered 21 kittens and 2 puppies!
2) I am quite literally the biggest Spongebob fan in the world and will quote the show frequently and unnecessarily
3) My quarantine hobby has been learning how to embroider, which I decided to do after watching one (1) youtube video. I am not that good at it but it is very fun.
4) I love curating spotify playlists (especially throwback jams, I love a good oldies playlist)
5) Every time I see a sunset --> i HAVE to (it is an actual reflex) take a picture of it
Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know me and why I ride! Feel free to contact me to introduce yourself at lynseymcam@utexas.edu !
Why I Ride
Initially when I heard about a bike ride going from Austin to Alaska, I thought this program had to be for crazy people. There was no way I could ever do anything like that. I kept hearing about Texas 4000 here and there, but never considered being a part of the program myself. However, after my godmother's diagnosis with a rare and aggressive cancer, I wanted to do be a part of the fight - and luckily I knew just where to look.
If I had to describe my godmother, Mrs. Christina, in three words it would have to be bubbly, gentle, and most of all: selfless. I'll tell ya her occupation is quite fitting for her demeanor. She is a veterinarian of many years, and has taken in more stray cats into her house than you probably have hairs on your head. And from a young age - I wanted to be just like her. I had this same magnetic pull towards animals, and she always supported that spark in me. I can still remember at age 10 my family went to her house for the annual Super Bowl party (she is a killer host) and ended up going home with not one but TWO foster kittens out of the most recent batch she had taken in - all thanks to a whole lot of begging by yours truly, alongside a convincing nudge from Mrs. Christina. Those kittens were named Paintball and Ranger and BOY were they cute, I was hooked!
And clearly I went on to foster just a *few* more kittens... It has been my greatest joy and my favorite hobby, and it's all thanks to her! So when I was told more about her diagnosis and severe prognosis in July of 2020, I was truly confused and angry that something so awful could happen to someone so pure, good-willed, and warm-hearted. I came back to school that year with her story heavy on my heart - and I was reminded of the crazy people biking cross-country to raise money for the fight against cancer. But this time I started thinking...maybe I should be crazy with them?
I began to see real potential in Texas 4000, becoming further drawn in by the opportunity to reach such a diverse array of survivors and fighters across the US. One of the most unfortunate conclusions I have come to time and time again during my college education is that systemic racism, bias, misconceptions, environmental justice, socioeconomic disparities, and discriminatory policy never fail to prevail, and have all continued to dominate in our country within the functioning, or rather malfunctioning, of our healthcare system.
It has become especially important for me to understand and combat this tragic reality as I pursue a career in healthcare as a Physician Assistant. There needs to be more opportunity for affordable healthcare, more ears willing to listen, recognize, and take action against early symptoms, and more people who will take on challenges that may seem impossible to defeat at first sight. With cancer being the #2 leading cause of death in this country, and one that disproportionately impacts communities of color - at times, it seems impossible to unravel. But we need to start somewhere with something - and it just may seem crazy at first.
So here I am, deciding to be a crazy person alongside all of my other teammates, riding for people I love and for a cause that I wholeheartedly support. As a big believer in action alongside prayer, I ask that you also join me in this very worthy cause however you can. Additionally, please feel free to contact me with stories of your family, friends, and loved ones at any hour of the day. Truly, I want to hear it!
Yours in the fight,
Lynsey