EVANSTON — A group of 25 young men and women on bicycles rode into Evanston after spending 11 hours and 15 minutes that day biking from Soda Springs, Idaho; a journey of 125 miles. The group is one of four teams comprised of 80 students from the University of Texas in Austin participating in a 70-day bike ride called Texas 4000, raising awareness and money to fight cancer.

Texas 4000 is the longest annual charity ride in the world, completing a 4,000 mile journey from Austin, Texas, to Alaska. Texas 4000 was named the 2021 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Austin Chapter in Austin, Texas. The charity ride was started in 2004 by Chris Condit, an Austin student, as a legacy to his grandmother, who died of brain cancer. 

Since its inception in 2004, the Texas 4000 nonprofit has seen more than 1,000 students complete the ride. Collectively, riders have helped to raise more than $12.1 million, pedal more than 5.4 million miles and impact countless lives.

Rithvik Ramesh, student in electrical engineering and physics and spokesperson for the Rockies team said, “The bike teams give presentations at different venues along the way on cancer prevention methods and tell their personal stories on how they have been affected by cancer. Each student has personally raised at least $4,000 or more before even beginning the ride.” 

The four routes designated for this year’s tour are the Sierra route, stopping in Yellowstone; Rockies route, stopping in Evanston; Ozark route, stopping in Salt Lake City; and the Smoky Mountain route, covering many of the eastern and southern states. The riders have support vehicles following them with their three-month supply of survival food kits, sleeping bags and other gear.

Atta Shay, operations manager for Pain Care Centers in southwest Wyoming, was contacted by his cousin, Nora Daryani, who was riding in the Rockies group, to arrange a night’s stay for the team. The Pain Care Center in Evanston agreed to let the team sleep in their facility.

Upon arriving at the center and after unloading their gear, the riders rode up to Flying J for showers. They spent the night at the center and left at 6 a.m. the following day. Shay said the team members make contacts along the way, often with people they already know, for places to spend the night.

Students who apply for the charity ride have all been touched in some way by cancer. When accepted to the program, they spend 18 months in training consisting of a leadership program preparing their bodies, minds and hearts. They participate in leadership development training, physical training, cancer awareness outreach, volunteer opportunities and philanthropic commitment.

Each applicant is required to personally raise $4,000, ride 2,000 training miles with the team, volunteer more than 50 hours in the community and play an active role in planning the trip to Alaska. They attend weekly meetings and fulfill leadership roles.

The bike teams left Austin on June 4, and all were stopped at the Canadian border, which was closed because of the pandemic. The riders are now on their return trip back to Austin. All 80 bicyclists will join on day 65 of the tour in Wichita Falls, Texas, to ride together the last five days of their 70-day ride back into Austin on Aug. 13.

According to Ramesh, a large amount of the money raised goes to the M.D. Anderson Center for Cancer in Houston, and to the Dell Medical Center at the University of Texas, for cancer research. 

“All of the money raised goes to cancer research and support services,” Ramesh said. “If anyone wants to donate, the best way is to go to our website: Texas4000.com.”