LUBBOCK, Texas -- Twenty college students from the University of Texas made a pitstop in Lubbock, as part of their bike trip from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska.
The organization is called Texas 4000. They will travel over 4,000 miles to reach their final destination. Their mission is to raise money and awareness for cancer.
"We are biking 4500 miles from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska to raise money and awareness for cancer research," Cate Kratovil, one of the riders said.
The Sierra route group was in Lubbock on Wednesday and Thursday, and on day 6 of 70 days, left for Clovis, New Mexico.
There are two other groups, with one going through the Rockies and another through the Ozarks. There are about 20 students in each group.
"We're going up through the whole West Coast. So west from Texas, up the coast to California, Oregon, Washington, and then through Canada and then to Anchorage," Claire Eastman, another one of the riders said.
They stayed at McPherson Cellars the night before, which was special for one student, because someone close to her had been a big fan of the winery.
"A big wine guy. He actually went to this winery when his kids were at Tech and he passed away from Leukemia," she said.
Throughout the trip they will stop at various host sites, many of which are sponsored by University of Texas alumni.
Eastman said connecting with the people she meets has been one of her favorite parts so far.
For me, the most rewarding part is the community engagement. I absolutely love talking to people and sharing stories. And you know, there's something that alumni always tell us. We are doing the 70 nights that each time we stay with someone, it's their one and only night to get to interact with the team. That's been the most fulfilling part for me is just, you know, experience, joy and sharing all these moments with other people," Eastman said.
Before hopping on their bikes Thursday morning, the group did a special chant and talked about why they had joined.
"Grandparents, neighbors, teachers affected by cancer. So it was really something that I wanted to do to carry them with me and you know, ride for them," Eastman said.
They hope that by doing this, they can make any sort of impact on the fight against cancer.
"We're not health care professionals or anybody who's really doing the hard research behind in the fight against cancer. But we want to participate as well, because cancer is everybody's problem," Kratovil said.
The Sierra group left from Austin last Friday, and plan to reach Anchorage, Alaska on July 25.
If you want more information on Texas 4000 and these students' journey, you can find that here.