An Alamo woman is turning her grief into reflection, planning a 100-mile bike ride through Hidalgo and Starr counties next week.

Victoria Garza leads a group called Crossroads, which hosts two rides a month through different parts of the Rio Grande Valley.

Channel 5 News caught up with her outside Saint Anne Catholic Church in San Manuel off U.S. 281.

"I grew up here in this area," Garza said.

This past June, she came up with an idea to visit every Catholic church in the Valley. The goal is to honor her late mother and little brother, both of whom died from cancer.

"It's difficult to see your baby brother like that and be sick. He was so strong; he had so much faith," Garza said.

Using her brother's faith as inspiration, she decided to make the rides to every Catholic church in the Valley a regular mission.

Marcos Martinez, a cyclist from McAllen, also wanted to use the rides to reflect on someone close to him.

After returning to the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic, Martinez had gotten used to getting around without a car while living in Richmond, Virginia.

"I wanted to be on a bicycle as much as I could," Martinez said.

He found Garza on social media and has done several rides with her since July in honor of his grandmother.

"I think about her and I pray about her, but this could be a really great way to feel like she's with me as I'm going to all of these churches," Martinez said.

On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, Garza will lead a group of cyclists through Catholic churches from McCook, overnight in San Isidro, and pass through Hargill and rural Edinburg.

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Details of the ride are available online.