UM rides to raise
cancer-research funds

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
Ky Harkey was out of breath when he was interviewed June 6—and for good reason.
The member of St. John’s UMC, Austin, had just climbed off his bicycle in Sherman, Texas. He had ridden 95 miles that day from Fort Worth.
That distance was the fourth leg of a 4,500-mile trek from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska, with a group of cyclists called Texas 4000. Harkey and more than 40 other Austin-area cyclists are biking the distance to support the American Cancer Society.
What distinguishes Harkey, 21, from the others is the 70-plus names scribbled on his helmet: some are those of people from St. John’s whose lives are or have been affected by cancer.
Harkey is dedicating his ride to them, to some members of his own family and community and to others he encounters along the way.
Yes, he said, the long ride is a physical challenge—but nothing like the challenge he’s seen in people battling cancer. He has watched family members fight breast cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma and survive.
“My eyes have been opened about how prevalent cancer is,” he said. “We’re out here spreading hope, to get the word out that there are ways to prevent cancer. I know now that cancer is a sad reality that most people will face one day. Whether it’s a personal battle or that of a friend or family member, chances are we all will see it in our lifetime.
“Some of these people (whose names are on his helmet) have fought the disease and lost. I want to honor their memories.”
People provide additional names along the route, he said. That shows the cyclists are drawing the attention they are seeking.
Attention doesn’t seem to be a problem. A horde of bicyclists riding into a town doesn’t go unnoticed. Plus, they get the word to civic leaders and news organizations in the next town that they are on their way. A media committee made up of riders sees to that.
Once they arrive, the cyclists take every opportunity to talk to groups and individuals, “spreading the word, telling about our experiences, talking about cancer prevention,” Harkey said.
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States,” he said. “And there are ways to prevent it, or at least fight it if you detect it early, and that’s what we want to tell people.”
Before they had even begun the ride, the cyclists had raised more than a quarter of a million dollars, surpassing their 2006 goal. Each was personally committed to raising $4,000.
This year is the third for the Texas 4000. Since 2003, the riders have raised more than $600,000. In 2006, they started out with $30,000 in corporate sponsorship. The riders’ jerseys and van carry those logos.
Cyclists get donations along the way, too, and have a link on their Web site, www.Texas4000.org, with information about donating. The funds they raise for the American Cancer Society this year are earmarked specifically for colon cancer research.
The 43 riders are split into two groups. Harkey’s is following a trail through the Rockies. The other is biking up the West Coast. This tactic gains their cause twice the attention.
The Texas 4000 was started by a University of Texas at Austin student who was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 11. In 2003, he was inspired by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong to start a bike-riding, cancer-awareness organization.
Texas 4000 remains a student-run, nonprofit organization. With a few exceptions, all of the riders are University of Texas students. Harkey is a senior majoring in geographic and engineering studies.
Harkey’s route to Alaska will take him through Wyoming, the Yukon and British Columbia, Canada, to Alaska. Riders began the trip May 23 in Austin, where they were joined by many other cyclists in a public ride.
“From there we were alone,” Harkey said.
Both groups will cover the distance in 70 days, stopping in as many as 19 cities. In those towns, they will donate time on the days off to volunteer at community service events and interact with cancer victims, Harkey said. In addition, each night they will spend time talking with members of the communities they pass through about their personal dedication to their cause.
“We hope that we can inspire others to join us in our fight against cancer,” he said.
They’re sleeping on the floors in churches and community centers and bunking in hospitals—another way to get the communities to notice them. Riders report their progress and impressions on blogs on the Web site.
A van carries their gear along the way. Riders take turns driving the van, but not until they’ve biked their designated mileage. Harkey said that amounts to about 65 days riding and five days driving.
The two groups are to converge in Canada to ride into Anchorage.
From Sherman, Harkey’s group was taking off across the flat lands of Oklahoma and Kansas. “It’s additional training for the ride into the mountains,” he said.