About Me & Texas 4000

Hi! My name is Katelyn Nguyen and I'm going into my junior year at The University of Texas at Austin, studying music performance. I'm excited to share that I've been selected onto the 2026 team for Texas 4000 for Cancer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and student organization at UT where students bike from Austin, Texas all the way to Anchorage, Alaska to raise money and awareness for cancer. Spanning 4,500+ miles over 70 days, it's the longest annual charity bike ride in the world! Our mission is to spread hope, knowledge, and charity in the fight against cancer. Since the first ride in 2004, Texas 4000 has raised over $12 million to help fund cancer research and support services across North America.

Why I Ride

I first became aware of cancer in 2014 when my grandfather passed away from prostate cancer. I was too young to really know him, but I remember the way his death impacted my mother and her family. Since then, I have been fortunate to not have been personally impacted by cancer, but I am constantly inspired by the strength and resilience of those who have faced cancer.

I ride for those who face cancer and yet choose to remain optimistic despite every reason not to. I ride for my teammates and their own connections to cancer. I ride because I am able to and I ride in spite of everything terrible that is happening in the world. I'm incredibly privileged to be dedicating a year to training for this ride and over two months next summer on the ride itself. I ride not for a getaway from the world, but despite it—because despite everything going on, cancer still persists and takes the lives of too many. I will ride in spite of all the reasons not to, to prove that we in fact persist despite the persistence of cancer. If this is the difference I can make in the world at age 20, I'm going to give it everything I have.

I ride for a cancer-free future and to spread knowledge to communities across the continent about how they can detect and prevent cancer—especially in rural areas where access to accurate health information isn't always guaranteed. Your donation to this cause goes directly to charity—supporting hospitals, cancer-fighting organizations, and research projects in North America. Your support will allow me to share your story and encourage others to check early and often—because we can stop cancer from taking more lives too soon.

I ride for my mom, who misses her father. She might be worried about me biking across the continent, but I can’t wait to come home and share my stories with her—and (hopefully) to tell her, no, I didn’t break my foot again. 

It would be an honor to ride in support of you or a loved one who has been affected. If I can dedicate a part of this journey to you, please don't hesitate to reach out to my email [katelynkhue@gmail.com] or my phone number (832) 367-3460.

If your company has a donation matching policy, please let me know and I will work with you.

This is probably going to be the hardest thing I have ever done, but I'm going to learn what it takes to motivate myself and keep fighting despite having a long, tough road ahead of you. I want to show the world our dedication to this cause and inspire all who meet us.

To Alaska and back,

Katelyn Nguyen