The Ride For Roswell 2013 will bring together more than 10,000 people this weekend, all united for a common goal: to win the fight against cancer. While they share a common passion, they all come from different backgrounds, have different stories to tell and even travel from faraway distances.
Here's a few inspiring stories of Ride supporters from across the nation - and even world - who are helping us find cures and save lives so that cancer can't win.
The Midnight Riders
Thomas Doody’s uncle, a Buffalo resident, was the glue that held his family together, and when he suddenly passed from mesothelioma, the family lost their closeness. Thomas, a resident of Scottsdale, AZ, decided to take over the role his uncle once played to bring the family together again in a way that would honor his uncle’s passing and create hope for others. He created a team in The Ride For Roswell called Midnight Riders and recruited his immediate family members. Six years later, Midnight Riders has transformed into a team of family members and close friends known for their over-the-top costumes during each Ride, most notably as members from the band KISS. This year, they encourage riders to keep an eye out for the Top Gun guys.
DC Supports The Ride
Brian Green, a Buffalo native who relocated to Washington D.C., still supports and recruits others to raise funds for the cancer research happening in Western New York. For the third year in a row, Green will virtual ride in The Ride For Roswell. A virtual rider is someone who fundraises and enjoys the same perks as riders (once they meet the fundraising minimum) but never has to get on a bike. Green’s team, DC Virtual Riders, has recruited seven members in the D.C. area who hope to raise $3,000 to support the cutting-edge research and patient care programs at Roswell Park.
All the Way from South Korea
When Bradley Wood joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19, he was voluntarily putting himself in harm's way. He had the choice to serve and risk his life, but cancer patients aren't given that choice. This weekend, Bradley will travel from South Korea to join his father in law, a Buffalo resident, at The Ride For Roswell. Bradley will make his journey from across the world for the fourth time to ride in honor of Brooks Spencer, who, 13 years ago at the age of 16, lost his battle with bone cancer in Bradley’s hometown of Greensboro, S.C. Bradley hopes to help find a cancer cure so that people can ask, "How many people live each year with cancer?” instead of, "How many people die?".