Photo supplied by Allie Rossmiller.

By Curtis Galbraith

Fund raiser

University of Texas students bring cancer fundraising bicycle ride to the Peace Country

Jul 13, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Twenty-three University of Texas students have brought a cycling fund raiser for cancer research to the Peace Country.

The group left Austin, Texas in late May on their leg of the Texas 4000 for Cancer bike ride and arrived in Grande Prairie on Friday, July 12.

One of the riders, Allie Rossmiller, says all of the riders have been impacted by cancer in some way.

“Whether it’s a close friend or family member. For me personally, my grandmother, her name is Grandma Barbie we call her, she was impacted by breast cancer at a relatively early age and really had to fight hard to enter remission, so I really ride for her. She’s one of the biggest reasons why I joined.”

Rossmiller says she also rides for those who may not have access to resources that can lead to early detection of cancer and for those whose stories the group hears along the way.

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Rossmiller adds they are following what is called the Ozarks route.

“We go through the Ozark National Forest and then made our way through Louisiana. New Orleans was a big stop. There was Memphis, Chicago, Minneapolis and so forth.”

“Our time has been wonderful. We’ve been greeted with such hospitality from the area and have really gotten a warm Canadian welcome, so we’re really excited to continue the journey.”

The group crossed into Canada in southern Saskatchewan.

Rossmiller says their crossing was delayed by a day because of a heavy rain that washed out their campsite.

“It was so beautiful. The sunset was coming out and we saw the big Canada sign right where the port of entry was. It was a really surreal experience for myself as well as the team.”

Rossmiller says they also ran into a lot of heat in some places and heavy wind in the Dakotas.

She adds each rider has to raise at least $4500 for cancer research, but some riders have collected double or triple that amount.

Rossmiller says they are grateful for hosts like Country Roads RV Park in Grande Prairie.

“Anything that we don’t spend on our trip gets donated out, so that is why we so appreciate housing being provided, meals being provided. That means that money doesn’t have to come out of our pockets, it just goes back to our cause.”

Donations are being taken on the Texas 4000 website.

The group was going to go to Dawson Creek on Saturday, July 13 and plans to be in Fort Nelson Tuesday, July 16. Their planned arrival date in Anchorage is August 2.