Last week, 25 UT students were hosted by local families for two nights at the halfway point of their bicycling journey from Austin to Anchorage, Ala. “LIVESTRONG TEXAS 4000, fighting cancer every mile” is painted on their chase van, which told their story to our community in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

We fed and housed the students, took them out on the lake on our boats and welcomed them as our own family. Many are seeing California for the first time and are in awe of our dry sunshine, snow-capped mountains and our deep blue lake. But what we received in return from this group of Texans was far greater. Their kindness, empathy, appreciation, etiquette, love and generosity of heart was immense.

Thank you to the University of Texas for sharing your exemplary students and giving our alpine town the opportunity to participate in this incredibly worthwhile cause as well as enjoying an experience these students and the host families will never forget.

Carl Fair
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.