When I was in 5th grade, I knew something wasn’t right. The air in our home always felt heavy, and my mom carried a quiet, constant worry. For a while, the truth was sheltered from me—my dad had been diagnosed with colon cancer. To those who knew him, he was charismatic, dependable, and full of warmth, but I saw him as an even greater father. Though he fought long and hard for over a year, he unfortunately passed away in April 2016. It shattered my world and left me questioning how something so cruel could happen to someone so good.

Though 12-year-old me wouldn't realize it yet, this was still the start of so much more. Since then, my family and I have done nothing but persevered, and I am passionate about my biggest journey yet: I’m honored to be riding with Texas 4000 for Cancer, an organization that empowers students to become leaders in the fight against cancer. Through a yearlong leadership development program and a 4,000+ mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage, we spread hope, share knowledge, and raise funds for life-saving cancer research and prevention efforts.

This is the biggest journey I’ve ever taken, and I ride with purpose: I ride for my dad—intelligent, charismatic, and the greatest role model I could’ve asked for. I ride for my mom, who sacrifices daily so that I can chase dreams like this. I ride for my sister (now Dr. Thangavel!) , who offers me so much to look up to and still paves the way for me. And I ride for my friends, my family, and everyone who’s supported me through it all and give me a reason to be grateful.

If you have someone in your life touched by cancer, someone you love, someone you miss, or someone who inspires you, I would be honored to carry their name and story with me on this journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear your story and ride in their honor.

Thank you for your support whether through a donation, a message, or simply by reading this. Together, we ride for something bigger.

To Alaska and Back, 

Shrikar