Profile

About: Hi! My name is Shaunak and I am currently a junior neuroscience major and Spanish minor. I enjoy anything spontaneous, and love to try new things. In my free time, I like swimming, hiking, baking, grabbing a coffee, or just having a good convo. I'm always down to make new friends, so feel free to reach out! :) 4694015584

Why I Ride

I am incredibly grateful as no one in my immediate family has been significantly affected by cancer. My first exposure to this incredible community came from research experience, in Dr. Rachel Schiff's lab at Baylor. Every day, I learned more and more about the progress of cancer treatment, and realized just how much work is left to be done. But, most importantly, working directly with tumor cells, I understood just how aggressive and formidable this cancer can be. I was inspired by these experts and scientists that have dedicated their lives to fighting this disease, and I ride for them.

As I talked excitedly about the organization, my mother pointed out that my great-grandfather had passed away from lung cancer. Curious, I asked about what he was like, but she could not answer; he had died when my mother was young, and her memory of him was reduced to one word: cancer. And so, I went to my grandmother, who began telling me a story of a man who would befriend the stray dogs outside, and knew the multiplication tables up to 50, and would make tea with so much ginger that it was spicy. I ride for him and others like him, to make their story more than just the word "cancer".

Thus, I ride for my great-grandfather. I ride for my amazing family of researchers and doctors in Dr. Schiff and Dr. DiGiovanni's labs to thank them for the work they have done and continue to do. And, I ride for everyone, in particular my supportive family, who have encouraged and given me the freedom to pursue my goals.

To Alaska and back,
Shaunak Sathe