Texas 4000-mile bicycle journey cultivates leaders

In 2004 Chris and Mandy Condit found­ed the Texas 4000, a 501c3 foundation. Their mission state­ment speaks for itself, “Texas 4000’s mission is to cultivate student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer.” The first year they wel­comed 43 University of Texas students who completed the “longest charity bicycle ride in the world.” The ride be­gins in Austin, Texas, with the finish line in Anchorage, Alaska, giving riders 70 days to complete their fund-raising ride.

These 19 riders and support host and hostess as well as a volunteer from Search and Rescue take a break. They just pulled in from Page, Ariz.; what a truly extraordinary group. Photo courtesy of Laurali Noteman.

There are currently two routes, Sierra and Rockies Routes. Con­sider this, on May 15, the riders left Austin, elevation approxi­mately 425 ft, at its lowest point, begin­ning their 4000-mile bicycle trek taking the Sierra route. The Sier­ra route traverses the southwestern climate zones; west Texas, New Mexico, Arizo­na, Utah, then heads north hitting northern California, Oregon and Washington coasts, into British Columbia and the Yukon, finally reaching Alaska.

They rode into Page, Ariz., on day eight, then into Johnson Can­yon, at approximately 5,135 ft elevation, on the ninth day. That’s a lot of up-hill pedaling, but these dedicated riders and organizers are committed to their cause, raising funds to help the fight against cancer and promote cancer research.

In their first year they were able to do­nate $112,000 to the American Cancer Soci­ety. By 2006 they had partnered with MD Anderson Cancer Cen­ter, supporting cancer research with a dona­tion of $195,000. In 2008 they were able to increase their donation to $225,000. In 2009 they were able to sup­port grant applications for cancer research at the University of Texas at Austin, Biomedi­cal Engineering Dept. As well as donating $310,000 to MD Ander­son, Utah, Biomedical engineering.

The Sierra team will spend the night in Johnson Canyon, gaz­ing up at the Milky ­Way with their guest host and hostess. There they will be able to have some great food, shower, wash their clothing and sleep un­der the stars of south­ern Utah’s night skies.

To learn more about the Texas 4000 or to donate, supporting cancer research, their story is available at texas4000.org.