Profile

About: Every year of my life has been spent in the great state of Texas. I was born and raised just outside of Dallas in what was once a little suburb called Allen. I am lucky enough to have two wonderful parents and an older sister who have played a huge role in shaping the person I am today.

This year marks my third year at the University of Texas where I am working on a degree in microbiology. I have always loved adventures. So, as a little kid it was my life goal to become an astronaut. However, given the fact that I am practically blind without glasses and can’t survive a plane flight without Dramamine, I was forced to let this dream go. The next career path I chose for myself was to become a pediatrician, which is a goal I still hold today. Originally, my motivation was probably the fact that I liked the candy I got when I visited mine, but as I grew older I maintained this aspiration because I saw it as an area where a great deal of good could be done. The way I see it, children aren’t supposed to be pent up in a hospital battling disease. So, I would like to spend my time getting them back to their childhood.

This same desire to help those who need it most is what has drawn me to the fight against cancer. Luckily for me, organizations like this exist and I don’t have to wait until medical school and beyond to make an impact. So, I intend to live my life to fullest because I have been blessed enough to have that opportunity, and I hope to help others do the same.

Why I Ride

I had wanted to be a part of this organization for a long time and actually started writing this statement well before the application was even available. It had started off with something along the lines of how lucky I was that relatively few people around me had been affected by cancer and that most of those that were, like my Grandpa, were survivors. But just as it often does, cancer struck so suddenly I didn’t even have the time to fully process what was happening and was left stunned.

The members of the Crawford family have been my neighbors since before I was born and have played a large part in influencing who I have become. They have provided me with so many life lessons, summer jobs, positive influences, great friends, and an absurd amount of cinnamon toast. This summer, Shane the oldest child of two, who had just turned 30, was diagnosed with colon cancer, which had metastasized to his liver. The treatment goal was to fight it off as long as possible, but after a short battle Shane passed away. The sudden loss of someone who had always been around during my life, and whom I guess I had assumed would still be for a long time is something that I still don’t think I’ve fully grasped.

While it was certainly shocking and saddening for me, I’m sure what I felt cannot even compare to what his family must have gone through. They have been very open, candid, and while they’d probably try to disagree, incredibly strong during the whole process. I’d have to say I think his sister, Mandy, summed it up the best when she said, “cancer sucks.” It’s plain and simple. So, while most of you who know Shane and his amazing sense of humor know he would probably make fun of me for saying this, I ride for him. I also ride for the Crawfords, and other families in similar situations, who suddenly have someone they love so much taken from them and are left to deal with such a profound loss.