About Me
Profile
- Route: Sierra
- Ride Year: 2022
- Hometown: Houston, TX
- School Year: Junior
- Major: Public Health
- Email: nanduri.rahul@gmail.com
About:
Hellooo! My name is Rahul, and I am the Sponsorship Coordinator for the 2022 Team! I was born in Hyderabad, India, moved to Houston when I was 6 years old, and have been situated in H-Town ever since (yes, I know Houston sports is a lost cause and yes, I still am a Houston sports fan)!
I'm a pre-med, Public Health major at UT Austin and am also completing certificates in Elements of Computing and Forensic Science. I've explored my various interests on campus through my participation in organizations such Hum A Cappella (I sang tenor!) and the Big Data in Biology research stream.
Outside of school, I love singing, playing my guitar, drawing and painting, hanging out with friends, playing and watching sports (my latest obsession has been volleyball - you can find me at Greg most evenings), and hopping on the occasional video game!
I'm so excited for the opportunity that Texas 4000 has given me to take on this journey and give back to my community through spreading awareness and donating my time in service, while also increasing my fitness and completing this biking adventure ahead of me.
If you've made it this far through my profile and have any questions (or just want to say hi!), feel free to reach out to me to talk about anything; I love meeting new people and making friends!
To Alaska and back,
Rahul Nanduri
Why I Ride
I am truly grateful to be able to state that I do not have any close family members or friends who have had to fight an unforgiving battle like cancer. However, I am no stranger to the volatile fragility of life. Throughout various events in my life, I have seen how fast life can change without any indication. In 2019, my father suffered a spontaneous stroke while I was in my room doing homework. He was rushed to the nearest emergency room, and doctors later told us that he was unbelievably lucky to not suffer any permanent brain damage. Sitting in the front of the ambulance, all I could think about was how, 5 minutes prior, I had been doing my homework on a seemingly-normal day of high school. This was the first time I truly realized how arbitrary life can be. A few years later, I saw how fickle my own health could also be when I was admitted to an emergency room in Austin to undergo various medical procedures after experiencing unanticipated medical complications. While undergoing various uncomfortable treatments for these symptoms, I found myself in a mental slump, with nothing to do but think. One of the things I found myself thinking about time and time again was the magnitude of sacrifice of patients who were facing bigger battles. Comparing this notion to my own experience as a patient gave me some idea of the immense amount of sacrifice and grit it takes to fight against a disease, especially one that has the potential to deconstruct your life and personal relationships. Cancer is like that, and this became my major inspiration for joining Texas 4000. I also ride because Texas 4000 gives me the opportunity to make a tangible impact. As a college student who is hoping to better the world as a physician someday, I want to be able to leave an impact on the world, and Texas 4000 allows me to challenge myself to do just this. My efforts in this organization may ultimately help save someone's life or make someone's world a little better, and this gives me a never-ending supply of motivation and determination to see this crazy journey through.
In an instant, cancer can lead to unfathomable losses in physical and mental health, social relationships, time, and money. Ultimately, we can never know what life has in store for us. In light of this, I want to ride not only for individuals facing cancer, but also for anyone who must suffer through these battles. If you have anyone specific in mind that you would like me to ride for, please reach out to me! I would be greatly honored to carry forward their story with me throughout this journey.