I am a senior majoring in Biochemistry and English. I grew up overseas in Indonesia and Australia but have made a comfy home for myself here in Austin. I was born in Casper, Wyoming and I really looking forward to going through there on our way to Alaska. I have many fond memories of my early childhood and would love to see some familiar faces ;-) I am going to be extremely poor after this trip because I'm forfeiting a summer of work for this cause, but I wouldn't have it any other way. In the short months that I've worked raising money for ACS and talking to families about our cause, I've begun to realize that every dollar counts and what we're doing really makes a difference. I can't wait until we get going on June 1. I've never felt more at home than I feel when I'm on the road "...because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn burn, like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."
-Jack Kerouac

My grandmother had surgery for brain cancer at the Mayo clinic in Rochester in 1959 when my father was 7. She started smoking while in the hospital to calm her nerves. She later passed away from "lung failure probably due to a pulmonary virus." The autopsy done afterwards showed the original brain cancer did not reoccur, so the cancer surgery was a success in that sense. Her poor health after the surgery related to the heavy doses of anti-seisure medication she had to take, her smoking habit, and the lack of rehab services which in those days were very under-emphasized in medical care. The impact my grandmother's illness had on those dearest to me is something I am only beginning to comprehend. Needless to say we've come a long way in cancer treatment since, but we still have a very long way to go. My cross-country coach from high-school is currently in his third round of chemotherapy battling leukemia. Like my grandmother did, he has a spouse who loves him dearly and a family to support. My best friend at UT was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. She's had to deal with countless doctor appointments, surgeries, and the stigmas associated with cancer. She's an amazing girl and living proof that we can beat cancer. I am doing this trip for her, Coach Graffe, in honor of the grandmother I never got the chance to meet, and for those on my periphery who are still fighting. I want everyone between here and Alaska who's fighting cancer to know that I'm fighting for them too.