Cancer-fighting cyclists make pit stop in Grande Prairie

Working to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, 79 students from the UNIVERSITY of Texas at Austin have embarked on a more than 4,500 mile bike ride.

27 of them made their way to Grande Prairie last night for a pit stop at Revolution Place.

The group had hoped to have Mayor Bill Given join them as they rode into the city, but a sudden thunderstorm forced them inside.

Texas 4000 was started in 2003, and this is the second time a group has taken the Ozarks way.

Route travel chair Vanessa Beltran says they all have very personal reasons for taking part.

“One of my best friends, his [8 year old] cousin got diagnosed with an untreatable brain cancer. Just seeing the strain that it put on his family was very difficult, and I just want to do something about it. This is our way of just helping any way that we can.”

With their counterparts on other routes, they’ve raised MORE than $587,000 towards their $600,000 goal.

Next stop is Dawson Creek on their way to their final destination in Anchorage, Alaska.

by Erica Fisher

– See more at: http://1047.2dayfm.ca/news/cancer-fighting-cyclists-make-pit-stop-in-grande-prairie/#sthash.VMjZmV8c.dpuf