Cross-Country Cyclists Visit the UAMS Cancer Institute
| June 16, 2015 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) welcomed about 30 University of Texas students June 15 as they rode through Little Rock on the longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world.
Cyclists (from left) Jawaid Ali, Kayla Cruz, Daniel van Dongen and Quynh Pham pose during a brief stop at the UAMS Cancer Institute.
The Texas 4000 team visited the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and UAMS Myeloma Institute as a stop along the 4,000-mile ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. This is the third year the group has visited UAMS.
As part of their trek, the riders volunteer at cancer-related community events and visit cancer treatment facilities to meet with survivors, patients, health care providers and family members.
Nikki Miller of Houston said she joined the team to support her roommate who is battling a brain stem tumor. “As a friend, you feel helpless when something like this happens. Being part of this ride gave me a way to show her how much I care and want to help in her fight,” Miller said.
Each rider must undergo extensive training prior to the ride, in addition to raising a minimum of $4,500 to be awarded as grants to organizations across the country for cancer research and support services.
“This is a dedicated group of young people who are committed to raising money and awareness in the fight against cancer. We were happy to be a stop on their journey again this year,” said UAMS Cancer Institute Director Peter Emanuel, M.D.
John Henry Adams, son of UAMS employee Julie Crawford, talks to one of the Texas 4000 cyclists.
Due to a minor accident prior to their arrival at UAMS, team member Jose Dominguez was transported to the UAMS Emergency Department for evaluation before continuing on the journey. “I had great treatment from the doctors and nurses here. They said I was released to join back up with the team when they arrived,” he said.
In its 12th year, the student riders began their journey in Austin on May 30 with a 70-mile community bike ride called ATLAS. From there, they headed north, separating into three routes — Rockies, Sierra and Ozarks — as they continue on a journey twice as long as the Tour de France. More than 400 riders have participated in the program since it began, raising more than $4 million for cancer research and survivorship programs across the country.
To learn more about Texas 4000 or read the riders’ blogs, visit www.texas4000.org.
Texas 4000 cyclists arrive at the UAMS Cancer Institute for a brief stop during their long ride.