Ride for Roswell Top Youth Fundraiser Hopes to Help "Knock Out Cancer"

MEDIA ADVISORY
May 31, 2007

WHAT: Alexander Grano, a 9-year-old basketball fanatic, and two-year top youth Ride for Roswell fundraiser (who has raised a grand total of nearly $12,000) will host a backyard knockout tournament with the help of his family, to benefit his 2007 Ride for Roswell. The family, otherwise known as Ride team “Survivor Seekers,” will welcome close to 100 boys and girls to play the popular basketball game, knockout, at their backyard basketball court. Players will hit the court for 30-minute intervals throughout the day. All game winners will be entered into a drawing to win a DunkStar™ Hoop System. The tournament’s sponsor, SnapSports of Salt Lake City, Utah, donated this item as the event’s grand prize. They can also win a free week at one of the Summer Basketball Camps donated by Canisius, Daemen, Medaille, Niagara, Sal’s Camp at St. Greg’s and UB. In addition to the Knockout games, for only $5.00 anyone can be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. A theme tray auction will also be offered with prizes donated by the Buffalo Sabres, NCAA, Canisius and SnapSports.

WHERE: Grano Family’s Backyard Basketball Court, 36 Summershade Court, East Amherst, NY

WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2007

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Knockout games will run in 30 minute intervals
5 pm: Raffle winner announcement for DunkStar™ Hoop System
5:15 pm: Congratulatory remarks from Jackie Grano, mother of Alexander, creator of the event
5:20 pm: Closing remarks by Alexander Grano

ADDITIONAL VISUAL:

University at Buffalo (10am – 12), Canisius College (1 – 3pm and Joe Gagliano speaking at 1:30), And Niagara (3 – 5pm) men’s basketball teams signing autographs for kids.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS:

Alexander, Jackie and David Grano (cancer survivor)
SnapSports Inc. VP of Sales, Dan Wollman from Salt Lake City, Utah

ABOUT THE RIDE FOR ROSWELL:

The 12^th annual Ride for Roswell, presented by naming sponsor, Wegmans, will take place on Saturday, June 23, 2007 starting and ending at Baird Point, on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus in Amherst. Riders can choose from four routes, or be virtual riders. They may also choose to form corporate teams or team-up with family members and friends. For more information about the Ride, to register or to make a donation to a rider like Alex, visit www.RideforRoswell.org or call 716-845-8788. For more information about the Knock-Out Tournament, visit www.RideforRoswell.org and click on Pedal Pals.

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The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization formed to receive and administer funds supporting scientific and clinical research, state-of-the-art medical care, and patient-related activities at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, as well as in New Zealand and China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.