I ride because cancer has touched people I love. I’ve seen how much strength and community matter during those moments and how powerful it is to show up for each other.

My story started in 2019 when I met my cousin during their Texas 4000 ride, which inspired me to attend UT Austin and eventually apply for this ride myself. Through Camp Kesem, I met children carrying the weight of a parent’s cancer diagnosis. As a Resident Assistant, I’ve supported students facing hardships, and in my own family, I ride for my aunt, a survivor, and in memory of my uncle who passed from lung cancer. I also ride for the women who coached and trained beside me in wrestling, many of whom have faced breast cancer.

This ride is about more than cycling. It’s about connection, sharing stories, spreading awareness, and reminding people they’re not alone.

If there’s someone you’d like me to ride for, I would be honored to carry their name with me. Please feel free to share their story, or yours, with me at aishwarya.k@utexas.edu.

Please consider donating to support this mission.  Whether you choose to donate, share my story, or simply send words of encouragement, your support truly means the world. Your donation helps fund cancer research, patient support, and awareness. Even the smallest gift can have a lasting impact.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support, your story, and your belief in this mission mean the world.

With love,
Aishwarya Kothalanka

To learn more about Texas 4000 and the impact we’re trying to make, please visit this link: https://www.texas4000.org/