Matthew Nolan

Matthew is a sophmore at the Texas State University. In the summer of 2012 he is riding with a group of college students on a 70 day, 4000+ mile bike ride from Baltimore to San Francisco.

What is your connection with the cancer community?

I've always considered myself very fortunate for never being directly effected by cancer, but this past summer my former teacher, Jennie Thogode, passed away from brain cancer. She was only 32 years old, and the last person I would've expected to be afflicted by cancer. I had just moved to New York at the time, and had absolutely no idea anything was ever wrong with her. While I was her student we shared an amazing connection, and without her guidance at that crucial point in my life, I don't know where I would be today. What hurt the most through the whole grieving process was never having a chance to be there for her like she had always been for me, never having a chance to thank her for being such an amazing person, and never having the opportunity to say goodbye.

Why are you riding the 4K for Cancer?

This ride will be my way of celebrating Jennie's life and finally feeling as if I've had an appropriate good bye. She'll be in my heart for each and every mile of our journey and the rest of my life thereafter. I'll also be riding in honor of my amazing grandparents, George & Carol Riester, Mark Valadez, Olga Rios, Dennis Campos, Donnie Brown, Emily Fitzpatrick, and anyone else, living or deceased, whose lives have been affected by cancer.