A bicycle trek from Texas to Alaska lands in La Crosse to deliver $11,000

Texas 4000 is out to raise cancer awareness

They just stopped by La Crosse quick to present a check for $11,000 for cancer on their fundraising bicycle trip from Texas to Alaska.

They’re called the Texas 4000, but they should probably be called the Texas 4,500, because that’s the amount of miles they’ll be traveling during their 70-day trip. The began at the University of Texas-Austin and will finish Aug. 12 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Thursday was Day 34. The group of 66 bikers stopped by to present the Gundersen Medical Foundation with that big ole’ check.

Everyone in the group has a personal story of why they’re involved, including Imran Zafar.

“It was the winter of 2013,” he said. “That’s when I found out my aunt was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. That was a leveling experience but it was also an inspiring experience. 

“In order for you to become familiar with the reality of cancer, it happens to you, it happens to somebody you know.”

Zafar said the group has raised more than $530,000. 

Thursday, it talked to a cancer support group before presenting the check to help better screen for certain cancers.

The group spent 14 months fundraising, leading up to the trek.