Biking 4,500 miles for cancer: UT Austin students stop in Abilene ahead of Alaska destination

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Around 20 bike riders arrived in Abilene on Monday evening. However, the Key City was just a pit stop on their journey to Alaska. This group of students from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin is embarking on a 70-day trip to raise money and awareness for cancer.

The 4,500-mile bike ride is part of a 20-year-old student organization at the Austin campus. Cate Kratovil, a junior at UT Austin, told KTAB/KRBC that she is riding for her grandparents, who died from the disease.

“Two of my grandparents died of cancer, so doing this is really my way of honoring their memory,” Kratovil said. “A lot of us, including myself, have had family members or people who’ve been very close to us affected by cancer.”

Texas 4000 rider and pre-med student, Kyle Kekish, said he is riding for his brother, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, cancer in the nervous system, adrenal glands.o

“My older brother was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma when he was two,” Kekish said. “He was given a 30% chance of survival; they called him the miracle child in the unit.”

Carrying his brother’s story with him and knowing the impact the sickness has on families, Kekish said it helps him pedal at full speed when the route gets tough.

“Even if you’re able to get the right care, it just impacts so much time and so much effort, and really just strains the family. So, you really have to have a strong support,” Kekish said. “I think about them every day. We do ride debriefs in the morning, one where we all go around in a circle and talk about who we’re riding for or why we’re riding—just really remember and think about why we’re doing this when moments get tough.”

Kratovil said the fight against cancer does not stop when their ride ends; it is a continuation of conversation and remembrance.

“The fight against cancer isn’t just for people who have cancer. It’s something that we should all be participating in, you know, and you don’t need to ride your bike to Alaska either. That’s how we’re fighting it,” Kratovil said.

Three groups of students are headed to different locations. To follow their route to Alaska, click here.