Profile

About: Hello everyone! Thank you for taking the time to learn about Texas 4000 and read my story. My name is Allie Rossmiller and I am a fourth-year accounting student hoping to pursue a career as a CPA. I am a proud Houstonian, but have spent my fair share of my summers in Iowa. I come from a family of five that has always emphasized the importance of hard work, spending quality time with one another, and being a good person. I hope to embody these values throughout my journey with Texas 4000.

My work on campus is largely centered around student and community outreach. Last year, I worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for Longhorn Run, an annual 5K and 10K race with over 4,500 annual runners. Through my position, I led one of the largest volunteer initiatives on the University of Texas campus, and had the opportunity to spread my passion for service, outreach, and athletics to our student body. This year as Co-Director, I am thrilled to be leading and continuing this tradition for the Longhorn community! I also work part-time as a student supervisor for McCombs Business Programs offices where I mentor students and provide information about program and academic opportunities on campus.

Outside of school, you can find me going on long-distance hiking trips, drinking copious amounts of Diet Coke, passionately proclaiming my love for voice-to-text, and always (always!) using the Oxford Comma.

​​Just as the past riders I have known, I am excited to uphold the memories of all people that cancer has touched. If you or a loved one has been affected by cancer in any way, please feel free to reach out. I would love to ride for them as well.

Why I Ride

My inspiration to join Texas 4000 comes from many places: my experiences with the organization on campus and the stories of my family members who have been affected by cancer.

In spring of 2021, I attended Texas 4000’s “Brave the Shave” event to support my friend as she shaved her head as a precursor to her summer ride. As I saw the (happy) tears stream down her loved one’s faces, the impact of Texas 4000 became clear to me. I now wanted to be a part of the fight.

I ride for my Grandma Barbie. She is a 77-year old real-life superwoman who has lived life to the fullest. An educator for over 30 years, she excelled as a teacher then principal, and eventually became the first female executive administrator in the state of Iowa. She also has an affinity for the outdoors, and worked her way through college as a commercial fisherman on the Mississippi River. My Grandma Barbie is also a breast cancer survivor.

She was diagnosed over 30 years ago. At the time, there were few alternatives to invasive procedures. Though her cancer had not metastasized yet, she underwent a life-saving but also life-changing double mastectomy to prevent the cancer from returning. My mom, her daughter, had nearly an identical scan earlier this year. I have seen the progress that cancer treatment has made, as my mom underwent a much less invasive surgery which left her healthy with continued oversight. I will ride for my Grandma Barbie and mom - women who have shown nothing but courage. I will ride for my two sisters, who are at greater risk of contracting this disease because of my family’s extensive history. Last, I will ride for those who have not been afforded the same access, knowledge, and resources to discover their cancer early.

I also wanted to take this time to mention the brave, amazing individuals who inspired me to apply to Texas 4000 in the first place. I will ride for Charlene Huang, a 2021 rider who sat down with me freshman year to talk me to Texas 4000. I will ride for 2022 riders Audrey DeJong and Radhika Patel, who have shown unwavering support of this organization and its mission. I will ride for my wonderful friend and roommate, Zosia Sandweiss who never bats an eye when I bombard her with Texas 4000 questions, and is quite literally the most amazing human being I have ever met. I will ride for 2023 rider Olivia Flaming who led and facilitated the best Texas 4000 recruitment process, and Jackie Wheeler who is one of the most involved people I know and still manages to make this organization a priority. Through my time in Texas 4000, I hope to share this same enthusiasm to others who are captivated by this organization’s mission but hesitant about becoming involved - it's worth it, I promise.

Just as the incredible riders I have known, I am excited to share the memories of the people that cancer has impacted. Through my experience with cancer, I know that this disease does not just affect the victim, it impacts family, friends, and entire communities. Texas 4000 is an incredible opportunity for impact - something that will require an impressive physical undertaking and dedication to sharing knowledge and spreading hope.

And finally, though I will ride for my grandma, mom, and T4K alumni I will also be riding for my future teammate’s loved ones, and anyone who sends their story my way.

(Working towards) Alaska and back,

Allie Rossmiller

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For those of you who have reached out, I now ride for:

Stephen Deputy and his wife, brother, father, and uncle