Bailey Grissom

Bailey Grissom / 2024 Team Fundraising

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I am a junior at UT Austin riding for Texas 4000 For Cancer because of four strangers who became a second family.

$4,881

Raised
$4,500

Goal
25

Supporters
84

Days Remaining

Recent Transactions

Thomas Bumbolow

$103.20 / 10 days ago

Good luck Bailey!
Julie Daul

$51.60 / 14 days ago
Joseph Hall

$103.20 / 14 days ago

Hey Bailey Good Luck on your ride wish i was riding with you!! Say Hi to Alan Sr and Jr rafted the Grand Canyon with them!! Jo from Minnesota
Marion Grant

$51.60 / 14 days ago
Gina Altvater

$30.96 / 14 days ago
Anonymous

$206.40 / 14 days ago

It is very nice and sweet . Go Bailey.
Casey MacAllister

$25.00 / 14 days ago

I worked with both of your grandparents on your Dad’s side. Great family! This is an amazing accomplishment! Enjoy your adventure!
Holly Clonts

$51.60 / 14 days ago
Anonymous

$25.00 / 15 days ago

Bailey already goes the extra mile in so many ways, not surprised she took on 4000 more for others
Carrie Meng

$20.64 / 15 days ago

CURING CANCER OUT HERE
Tori McDermott

$10.32 / 15 days ago
Caroline McGuire

$49.54 / 91 days ago

Such an incredible thing to do Bailey!! Couldn’t be prouder and I’m thinking about you <3 LETS GET THIS
Anonymous

$103.20 / 91 days ago
Hannah Hall

$10.32 / 91 days ago
Anonymous

$400.00 / 104 days ago
Anonymous

$300.00 / 104 days ago
Anonymous

$103.20 / 146 days ago
Laura Denning

$25.00 / 150 days ago
Leslie Weeks

$309.60 / 152 days ago

So proud of you for supporting such a worthy cause. See you in Anchorage!
Ashley Malone

$258.00 / 156 days ago

Bailey-we are so proud of you and your determination to raise support to help fight cancer. We will be following you and cheering for you all the way to Alaska! We love you-Aunt Ashley, Uncle Karo, Evan and Mags
Jeffrey Grissom

$100.00 / 159 days ago

Go kill it!
Lacey Reynolds

$15.48 / 162 days ago

Good Luck Bailey you are amazing!
Anonymous

$863.30 / 206 days ago
Anonymous

$925.17 / 206 days ago
Anonymous

$738.75 / 206 days ago

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About Bailey Grissom

My name is Bailey Grissom, and I am a Junior at UT Austin studying Sustainability Studies and Economics with a minor in Business Spanish. Additionally, I work on campus at the Outdoor Center where I rent out gear and lead adventure trips. Recently, I joined the 2024 Texas 4000 team. In the upcoming 18 months, we will be volunteering, spreading awareness, fundraising, and training for this 4,000+ miles bike ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. I am beyond excited to be a part of this team and embark on the longest annual charity bike ride in the world.

I ride because... About four years ago, I met the Sittmanns, four strangers who agreed to host me as their exchange student for five weeks. My first impression of the family left me overwhelmed. The Sittmanns greeted me with hugs and kindness; I was shocked by how welcoming they could be of a complete stranger into their home.

The first week I spent with Gisela, my exchange student, and her family, I was extremely uneasy. South African accents are beautiful, but initially, I really struggled understanding Gisela’s parents because their Afrikaans accents were so strong. Therefore, communicating with them left me stressed.

Throughout the five weeks I spent with the family, there were several things I could count on in the Sittmann household: 1. Family dinner together every night. 2. Afrikaans being spoken at the table when they forgot I did not speak the language. 3. Gisela’s father, Michael, asking me questions to which I did not know the answer.

Prior to Michael asking me to which I did not know the answer, I was intimidated by him. He was extremely tall, extremely smart, and had an extremely strong Afrikaans accent like I mentioned. But the more time I spent with him and his family, the more comfortable I became with them. I had grown accustomed to their accents and loving care. I began to love what had previously overwhelmed me, and I began to dread leaving the Sittmanns.

I ended up loving the Sittmanns and the life I had with them. I loved family dinners. I loved sitting in their living room watching the Big Bang Theory. And I loved sitting on the kitchen floor being serenaded by Gisela and her twin brother, Alex. The Sittmanns did not know me or what I was going through at that time in my life, but the kindness and love they showed a stranger impacted me more than they were aware. I cried hysterically when I had to leave the people who had terrified me five weeks earlier.

About half a year after I had returned to Nashville, Gisela informed me that Michael, my exchange father, had been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. He had been given two years to live max. I hurt for my second family, and I constantly thought of them and their impact on my life. I felt useless and confused as to how I could help. What can someone a continent away even do?

Michael passed away December of 2021, about 2 years after his diagnosis. I ride because of a man who I lived with for just a month. I ride because he and his family welcomed a stranger into their home. I ride because he and his family showed a stranger love. I ride for the Sittmanns.

So, I ride for strangers. I ride for friends. I ride for the opportunity for strangers to become friends. I ride for anyone and everyone out there that is experiencing cancer, has a loved one who is experiencing cancer, or has lost a loved one to cancer.

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Bailey Grissom

Bailey Grissom / 2024 Team Fundraising

$4,881

$4,500

25

84

Recent Transactions

About Bailey Grissom