Profile

About: Hello there!

First off, thank you so much for stopping by and learning a little more about Texas 4000. My name is Rachel, and I'm the youngest of four kids, born and raised in Austin. I love playing guitar, songwriting, and being outdoors. I have a radio show with KVRX 91.7 FM—tune in Fridays at 5pm to hear me DJ!

Why I Ride

In the spring of last year, I was told that my family member had a brain tumor.

A few days later, we learned it was actually a non-cancerous brain cyst. Although this flooded me with relief, I was not left unchanged. That day in March affected how I view everything: my relationships, the transience of life, and people who are affected by cancer and other often terminal illnesses.

I want to bike to Alaska for everyone who's still holding their breath. Everyone who’s gotten the bad news, but may never hear the good news. As someone who is deeply privileged to have never suffered a close loss from cancer, I feel it’s my duty to ride for those who have.

In my own life, I sometimes have a tendency to focus more on the unhappy moments than is probably ideal. I tend to see the glass as half empty, whether it’s in my daily life or when pondering the state of the world. To me, Texas 4000 is an antidote to my cynicism. Its benefit, though inextricably linked with monetary aid, is much more than fiscal. Supporting Texas 4000 means supporting optimism over pessimism, knowledge over ignorance, and hard work over apathy. I know this journey won't be easy, and I'm thrilled to be embarking on it.

If my page or the broader mission of Texas 4000 strikes a chord with you, please reach out to me with your story. I would be incredibly honored to hear it and to ride for you. Please don't hesitate to email me at rachelpierron@utexas.edu!

To Alaska with love,
Rachel