Newsroom

Cyclists wrap up ride for research

Sunday, August 26, 2007
by Amanda DeBard
Daily Texan

A tribute was held Saturday night for the Texas 4000 cyclists who traveled 4,500 grueling miles over 70 days for cancer research. Most of the riders were UT students.Sponsors purchased event tables, which varied in price from $1,250 to $3,000. General admission tickets were available for $125."We had a really good turnout," said Chris Condit, UT biomedical engineering graduate student and founder of Texas 4000. "Between 400 and 425 people showed up."The organization hopes to raise $350,000 this year and has already raised more than $226,000. Its four-year projected goal is about $876,000.Texas 4000 bikers left the steps of the UT Tower on June 2 and traveled through the desert and mountains to Anchorage, Alaska. All members of the organization have somehow been touched by cancer, including Condit, a Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor.Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, delivered the keynote address during the event, which was held at the Hilton Hotel on Fourth Street.The organization will host an informational session on campus Thursday night for interested students.