The Texas 4000 Ozarks Route group pedalled through wind and rain for a pitstop in the Border City on Saturday, June 28.
The group, comprised of 20 University of Texas at Austin students, is part of a 4,000-mile cycling journey from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
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The Ozarks Route takes participants across the American Midwest before entering Canada south of Winnipeg. Riders then travel along the Yellowhead Highway through Saskatoon before heading north after Edmonton. The goal is to raise $550K for cancer research.
Lloydminster has been a regular stop for riders for years thanks to hosts like Dick Arie and his wife, Donna. The couple makes riders like John Kangos, a 22-year-old participant from Austin, feel right at home along the journey.
“Texas 4000 is a student-based non-profit organization from the University of Texas at Austin. We have a lot of missions that include spreading hope, knowledge and charity about cancer and raising funds for cancer research,” said Kangos, a recent psychology and French degree graduate who plans to go to law school. “Our big thing is a summer ride from Austin to Anchorage.
“Along the way, we engage communities, hear their stories and take their stories with us.”
After a cold day battling headwinds from North Battleford, Kangos was in high spirits after a shower at the Servus Sports Centre and a meal at Chopstix Pho and Grill before a good night’s sleep in Grace United Church.
The Texas 4000 Ozarks Route group says good night to Dick and Donna Arie in Grace United Church on June 28 before having a post ride debrief and getting some well earned sack time Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
“I’ve loved Canada,” he said, noting the joke among riders is that Canada is the place where the ride gets hard. “It’s very unknown, it’s a different country, it’s colder than the U.S., there’s wind and rain, but it’s been amazing so far.”
The Border City stop marked Day 43 of 70 for the group. It also marked the end of the longest day on the bikes.
“Going from North Battleford to Lloydminster today, we had terrible headwinds all day,” he said, noting days like that make the ride worth it.
“Pushing through those situations, seeing how everyone grows and finding something in yourself to get through it.”
Kangos explained each rider has their reasons for getting involved in the 4,000-mile journey. There was, however, a constant.
“I wanted to do it to honour members of my family and anyone I knew along the way who’s been affected by cancer,” he said, adding a majority of the Texas 4000 team shares that sentiment.
“All of us have some connection to cancer, but something we’ve learned on this ride is that cancer does affect everyone, or they know someone who’s been affected by it.”
Kangos also explained the cross-country trip gave him and the team some perspective on international relations.
“With everything going on in the world right now and the tensions between Canada and the U.S., politically, us being here seems to make a difference for people,” he said. “We’re really appreciating Canada, and we sing O Canada every morning.”
Sunday’s ride took the team from Lloydminster to Vegreville for the night before pedalling their way to Edmonton on Monday. As for the stop in Lloyd, Kangos noted the hospitality was top-notch.
A map showing the Ozarks Route from Austin Texas to Anchorage Alaska
“Dinner at Chopstix was awesome, and for breakfast, we’re going to Spiro’s. I hear a Greek family owns it, and my family is from Greece. I’m excited for it,” he said, explaining the meals were provided by the two Rotary Clubs in Lloydminster.
For hosts Dick and Donna Arie, who are both cancer survivors and have been involved with the ride for over a decade, the ride is special.
“It’s a hell of a feat,” said Dick, explaining it takes a special kind of person to volunteer for the trek.
“The kids have to write essays and go through interviews to make sure the right people are selected. If I were that age, I’m not sure I’d be volunteering to do something like this, mainly because I didn’t know many people with cancer back then.
“Cancer is sneaking down to younger and younger people these days and
it’s important to fund cancer research and support what these young people are doing.”
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