The 70-day Texas 4000 for Cancer bike ride has gone virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local athlete and University of Texas at Austin student Clara Souza is participating in the virtual event which began May 29 and ends June 26.

“Throughout my life, I have seen many people who I love to be affected by cancer in some way. I have seen whole families come together to fight alongside their loved ones. However, I have also seen the immense emotional and physical toll it takes on individuals and their families,” Souza said.

The event is broadcast daily online through the Texas 4000 for Cancer website. The broadcasts include information on cancer prevention and awareness and stories of riders, individuals, families and organizations engaged in fighting cancer.

The ride, which ordinarily cycles from Texas to Alaska, has raised more than $11.6 million to fight cancer and participating athletes have pedaled more than 5.2 million miles since the founding of the event 17 years ago.

“The global pandemic has brought our communities, our country and our world to a standstill, but cancer hasn’t stopped,” said Texas 4000 Executive Director Scott Crews. “That is why the ride must go on. The global pandemic may have taken the 2020 team off the road to Anchorage, but it has not diminished our passion for sharing hope, knowledge and charity in the fight against cancer. The fight continues.”