Every individual has experienced at least one moment in time that will always be imprinted in their memory. Moments that one will carry with them until the end, moments that frequently come to mind when alone, moments that mark a defining moment in one's perspective on life. One of my defining moments happened when I was volunteering at Dell Children’s Medical Center. I was shadowing a pediatric doctor who, at the time, was treating a child with cancer. This family had been seeing us for a while, and my initial opinion on them was how upbeat the mom seemed, and how strong both her and her child looked at first appearance. It was kinda inspirational. One day, the doctor was explaining to the mother the next steps of treatment her child will be receiving. I still remember the sob the mother had cried out that day, it was the first time I had actually seen a family member cry in front of me. She described how, as a single mother working four jobs, she was only getting about an hour of sleep per night and still barely had food for herself and her child since treatment was so expensive. It was heartbreaking to see this mom break down, because she seemed so strong for her daughter. The worst part was that all we could do was sit there and listen. We couldn’t provide a solution for her, we couldn’t provide any hope, all we could do was listen and say we understood. This was the first time I had felt powerless in the medical field. The doctor later explained to me that sometimes all we could do was listen to the families because sometimes they have no one else to talk to about this, or don’t want to release this frustration on anyone else. I truly believe that this experience altered my perspective on both the cancer patients and the family members that support them because their life is so heavily affected in so many ways, but they never show it. I want to ride for this woman and her child, to be able to provide anyone the initial hope that I wish I gave to them when I was hearing their story. Every single person I encountered after that—those who lost their lives to cancer, those who overcame it, and those who are still fighting it—had a similar pattern to their stories: they looked for hope no matter what obstacles life presented. This concept of Hope is what I want to carry throughout my time in Texas 4000, and beyond. I've come to realize that everyone has experienced cancer's effects to some degree, which is why Texas 4000 is such a critical group. It produces leaders that are compassionate, strong, and outspoken, ready to start the steps to eliminate a terrible disease that has torn apart families and friendships. Through hope, knowledge, and charity, Texas 4000 impacts lives in the long term. That’s something worth prioritizing. That’s something worth supporting. I ride in support of individuals who have seen a loved one go through treatment and recover. I ride in honor of those who have witnessed a loved one battle cancer fiercely but lose their battle against it. I ride for their resiliency and hope that one day we will find a cure. I ride for my parents who taught me what it means to persevere through everything even when odds can be against you, and for being my inspirations in life. I ride for my siblings and extended family who are the embodiment of love. I ride for all my teammates who have experienced the effects of cancer and other adversities either themselves, their loved ones, or someone they know. I ride for all the immigrant parents out there doing everything in their power to give a better life to their children and future generations. I ride for myself and the experiences that have molded my perspective on life. I ride especially for all the people who go through cancer alone, or who feel alone because they’ve lost someone due to cancer. While I don’t have a close loved one who’s battling cancer (and I do acknowledge how lucky I am to be able to say that), I would be honored to ride for you, your family, or any person you may know who has been affected by cancer. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at kc42622@utexas.edu and share your story. I would love to add you to my list of why I ride. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope this inspires you to make a donation, share your story, or even spread a little Hope of your own :) to Alaska and beyond, kanchal <3 --- A growing list of who I ride for: The children/adults who are currently fighting or already fought this battle Those who need hope My mom and dad Kashi, Kapish, and Karan My countless aunts, uncles, and cousins Every individual on my team Karam Chand, father of Dr. Aneel and Dr. Teekam, who fought prostate cancer Mary Ann, Sean's Godmother Taha Malik, son of Dr. Azhar Malik Tina Berliner, who beat both brain cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma Stephanie Mitchell Duncan's Husband, who fought prostate cancer Nana Jovita, Tia Yaya, & Tia Vello, for Tina Gonzalez