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Sixty days after departing Austin, Texas the Livestrong Texas 4000 cycling team rolled through Whitehorse this past Tuesday.

The team of forty-two student riders from the University of Texas (UT) regrouped after traveling in two teams for more than 5,500-kilometres of the 7,243-kilometre journey.

The team has seven days left in the trip, which will come to an end in Anchorage, AK.

"This is the homestretch,鈥� said Kaitlyn Hunt, the assistant rider director for the Rockies route.

"This is our last rest day and now we'll be riding straight through until we get to Anchorage.鈥�

It's the ninth year the organization has made the journey, which began as an initiative by UT student and cancer survivor Chris Condit, who wanted to spread a message of hope while also raising funds towards cancer research.

Since its inception the Texas 4000 team has contributed more than US$3million to the fight against cancer and 400 riders have taken part in the adventure.

Along the way, the team visits with cancer survivors, patients and family members to raise funds and increase awareness.

The two teams ride together on the first day, before splitting off into two routes: the Rockies and the Sierra.

Each team is followed by two vans and a trailer which carry supplies and bike maintenance kits.

"We haven't seen each other for the past 59 days so it's a pretty big reunion here in Whitehourse,鈥� said Hunt."It's also the first city we've seen in awhile. We've been stopping in one building towns so we've been taking advantage of having more than one place to eat and just enjoying seeing each other again.鈥�

Along the way, the teams have an equal mix of camping and spending nights in school gymnasiums, community centres and churches.

They also battle the elements, cycling through rain, snow, sleet and wind.

"It's definitely the largest trip or adventure I've ever done in my life,鈥� said Hunt.

"The alumni always say 鈥榙on't let it be the greatest thing you've ever done' and we say to ourselves 鈥榟ow you can do anything bigger or better than this?'鈥�

The journey begins each morning with a ride dedication.

The cyclists gather in a circle and share their reason for taking part in the journey and discuss who they are riding for.

"That's what keeps us going,鈥� said Hunt.

"There's definitely times when it's tough but I'm not going to stop riding my bike. Everyday I'm doing this for someone and there's someone who would love to be on this adventure but just can't be.鈥�

Along with their individual reasons for being part of the team, they also receive a motivational boost through the relationships they form with each other.

"What makes this experience is who you're experiencing it with,鈥� said Marcelo Flores, the media and public relations chair and a Radio-Television-Film student at UT.

"The camaraderie is hugely important.鈥�

"You learn about the reasons why everyone is here,鈥� said Taylor Foreman, rider director for the Rockies route.

"It's incredible to get in that circle and share our stories. It's a huge relief for a lot of the people to be able to talk about something that's so hard. It's hugely cathartic and moving on a daily basis.鈥�

The teams spend more than a year preparing for the trip, learning under the guidance of the previous year's team and each cyclist raises a minimum of US$4,500 in donations.

"The ride only works because every single person has a role and everyone works on it throughout the year,鈥� said Hunt.

Once the group arrives in Anchorage, they will be greeted by a UT alumni chapter who will host a celebration, giving the cyclist a chance to unwind and enjoy a full meal.

"We've been eating a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but our team ran out of bread a couple days ago so it's just been PB and J on cliff bars lately,鈥� said Hunt.

From Anchorage, most of the cyclists will fly home while a small group will drive the vans and equipment back to Austin.

With the journey coming to an end, Flores said it's a bittersweet feeling.

"It's going to be rough saying bye to these twenty people you've been living with along this trip,鈥� he said.

"It's sad that it's cancer that brought us together but it's something that brings all walks of life together,鈥� said Foreman.

"There are so many people on this team that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet and truly get to know. It gives you a wider world view and that's extremely rewarding.鈥�

Hunt said one of the most breathtaking landscapes the team has encountered so far in the journey was their ride into Whitehorse.

"It's been incredible. I love Canada. It's so beautiful. There aren't really words for it. To ride everyday and see a bear, or a porpucine, or the mountains and the water, it's been gorgeous,鈥� she said.

"It's one thing to ride in the city, we train year-round in Austin but out here our destination is just another spot in the woods and for me I love that. For some people, it's an adjustment. Your bed at night is a sleeping bag, but I love it.鈥�

The teams will arrive in Anchorage next Friday and after everything wraps up, Hunt said there are a few things she's looking forward to once she gets home.

"My mom's cooking, a bed and a hot shower where I don't have to wear shoes,鈥� she said.

"It's been an exciting adventure and it will be incredible to reach the end.鈥�