Georgene Hergenroeder

I met many people this summer who told me I was crazy: I cycled from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska with 41 other UT Austin students to raise money for cancer research. As you read this, you might think I’m crazy, too—but let me give you some background about how I became involved in this incredible organization called LIVESTRONG Texas 4000 for Cancer. 

Since 2004, a group of approximately 50 UT Austin students has biked each summer from Texas to Alaska to help fight cancer. Each rider is responsible for raising $4,500, which is roughly a dollar for every mile of the summer ride. Since the beginning, Texas 4000 has raised more than $3 million. My team alone raised more than $300,000. Each year, the team that rode that summer gets to decide where that money goes.  Past teams have donated to MD Anderson, cancer navigation services at LIVESTRONG and even the UT Biomedical Engineering department. Yet we do more than just fundraise. In fact, our three pillars are spreading Hope, Knowledge, and Charity in the fight against cancer. So, in addition to fundraising, we also seek to spread awareness about cancer statistics and early detection. To do this, we reach out to the communities we cycle through and put on programs about cancer prevention.