The Ride For Roswell Names 2009 Event Chairs

The Ride For Roswell Names 2009 Event Chairs
Bourgeois, Eberle, Flynn, Hannon and Olsen to lead planning for June 27 event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board has named Terry Bourgeois, Christine Eberle, Mitch Flynn, John Hannon and Jonathan Olsen as co-chairs of The Ride For Roswell 2009. The Ride, presented by Wegmans and Wellness Sponsor Praxair, will take place on Saturday, June 27 at the University at Buffalo’s Amherst campus. More than 8,500 riders, volunteers and supporters are expected at the event. The Ride has raised more than $8.4 million over thirteen years for cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Terry Bourgeois, Director of Distribution and Applications Engineering for Praxair, Inc., has been named Event Support Chair for The Ride 2009. Bourgeois has served as Praxair’s Ride team leader since 2002. As Event Support Chair, he will lead the coordination of all pre- and post-event activities and planning of the event’s layout on UB’s campus. He will also coordinate rider support services such as food tents, rest stops and post-Ride entertainment. Bourgeois will oversee more than 750 volunteers at Baird Point on the day of the event.

Christine Eberle, partner and co-owner of Eberle & Sciandra Communications, has been named Marketing Chair. In this role, she will lead advertising, web design, and collateral pieces to raise community awareness of The Ride. She also will help develop and implement marketing plans for the day of the event, including video, photography and media coordination.

Mitch Flynn, President of Flynn & Friends Advertising, founder of The Ride For Roswell, and a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board since 1990, will serve as Extra Mile Club Chair. In this role, Flynn will work to recruit and motivate individuals to raise $1,000 or more. He will oversee the benefits and activities associated with the Extra Mile Club, including the planning of the Peloton, a biking route that travels from Roswell Park’s campus to UB on the morning of The Ride. 

John Hannon, Senior Research Associate at DuPont, a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board since 2005 and a top Ride fundraiser, will serve as Fundraising Chair for The Ride 2009. He will create targeted messaging and materials to motivate riders and aid them in meeting and exceeding their fundraising goals. He will work to recruit and encourage corporate teams, active athletes, families, civic groups, and other community members.

Jonathan Olsen, Manager of General Accounting for FedEx Trade Networks, will serve as Logistics Chair. He will be responsible for the organization of seven of the eight Ride routes (excluding the Peloton), developing an emergency and safety plan, recruiting more than 250 route guide and riding marshal volunteers, and working with all safety personnel on the day of the event.

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