About Me

Profile

About: I’m Ellen Thanheiser, and I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. It is by far the best city in the world to grow up in, granted I have never lived anywhere else. I grew up with two very nurturing, smart, and humble parents, Matt and Giggy. I have two older brothers who are incredibly difficult to live up to, but being the youngest and only girl, you could say I’m the favorite child. My brothers, Will and Hall, are my best friends and always know how to put a smile on my face. They are slightly overprotective, but I love them for it.

Stepping onto the UT campus, after attending the same school for fourteen years, was a bit overwhelming for me. I had seen myself attending a smaller school in a different state, but when it came down to it The University of Texas at Austin was my best option. I now love this school so much more than I ever thought I would. I joined Kappa Alpha Theta at the start of my freshman year, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It gave me an immediate niche and made this huge world and university seem a little smaller and more bearable.

My roommate, Martha Mai, rode in the summer of 2015. She is the one who encouraged me to apply, and she continues to answer my numerous questions. I thank her for challenging me and welcoming me into the Texas 4,000 family. I am so honored to be a part of this organization, and I look forward to becoming friends with my teammates, hearing their stories, and fighting cancer by their sides.

Why I Ride

I ride for my dad, Matt Thanheiser. In my family we refer to my dad as “The big man”. Not only does he stand at 6’ 4”, but also he is the rock of our family. He always knows what to say, and he is always right (well most of the time). He has taught me everything from how to ride a horse to how to change a flat tire on my car. He was also the one who challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and attend UT.

In January of my freshman year in high school, my dad was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was something I never saw coming. Suddenly, my large, strong father became thin, frail, and even balder than he already was. I vividly remember holding his hand, while wearing his lucky shirt, as the chemo dripped into his body. The greatest pain for me in the seven months my dad was undergoing treatment was having to stand by, watch, and do nothing.

I am thrilled to say that my dad is now cancer free, and I am incredibly grateful to the doctors at MD Anderson and to all of the people who helped our family during this hard time. I believe that actions truly do speak louder than words, and I hope that through my experience in Texas 4,000 I am able to show my dad, family, friends, and teammates that I support them in their fight to end cancer.