About Me

Profile

About:


I was born in Seattle, Washington and spent three great years in Washington before we packed up and moved back to Anchorage, Alaska where my dad grew up and I had my wonderful childhood. Although I was “that kid” who couldn’t wait to get out of the confines of the Great White North I couldn’t imagine a better place to grow up. Having the ability to grow up going fishing, skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking and so much more whenever I wanted to was the greatest experience I could have ever asked for.

I grew up with a hockey playing father and brother and a volleyball playing mother so I naturally gravitated towards both sports, trying out a lot of other activities along the way. I think everyone was most shocked I wanted to join Texas 4000 because in my family, my brother is the huge cyclist; I’ve barely been on a bike since I was ten years old.

Currently I am in my third year at The University of Texas at Austin working on a Bachelors of Business Administration with a major in Supply Chain Management and a minor in Textiles and Apparel, Retail Merchandising.

Other facts about me: I love to be outside, a good book can make any day better, cooking and baking bring me great joy, Lake Crescent outside of Port Angeles, Washington is my favorite place to be with family, I have an insanely long bucket list, and my dogs make me the happiest girl in the world.

Why I Ride

Like so many other people in this world I know many people that have been affected by cancer.

I ride for my Aunt Susan who was diagnosed with breast cancer just over one year ago. Even while going through chemotherapy and radiation she, somehow, managed to race in a national rowing competition. I’ll never understand how she managed it and she is one of my biggest inspirations. She “kicked cancers butt” and I can’t wait to see her, happy and healthy as I remember and put my sign language skills to use.

I ride for my Aunt Cathy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 10 years old. While she was told she might not have long she never let that get her down. At the time, I didn’t really understand what cancer was, I just knew it made my Aunt hurt, my family sad and took my mom away for extended periods of time. She got through it with courage and hope like I had never seen before, and she got through it to still be here for her son, who was only seven at the time.

I ride for Liz Hooe who, while she wasn’t my volleyball coach made a point to always ask how I was, how I was feeling and was always genuinely interested in everyone’s life. With hundreds of girls playing volleyball in Anchorage I never understood how she managed to remember every single one of them. She fought her cancer with such amazing bravery and valor, and even though she lost her battle this past January, she is still bringing hope and happiness to people everyday.
Cancer has affected so many people in my life, and so many people around the world. Along with these three women, I ride for their families, who through it all, never showed fear, never had a negative attitude, and still love everyone and everything unconditionally. I ride for everyone who wants to make a change, and for everyone who wants to see a cancer free world someday.