The Ride For Roswell Names 2011 Event Chairs

Bourgeois, Eberle, Hannon, Piotrowski, Russell and Olsen to lead planning for June 25 event

(BUFFALO, NY) The Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board has named Terry Bourgeois, Christine Eberle, John Hannon, Steve Piotrowski, Sally Russell and Jonathan Olsen as co-chairs of The Ride For Roswell 2011.

The Ride will take place on Saturday, June 25 at the University at Buffalo’s Amherst campus. More than 9,500 riders, volunteers and supporters are expected at the event. The Ride has raised more than $13.8 million for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center over the past 15 years. Last year alone, more than 7,000 riders and 1,500 volunteers helped raise $2.8 million for cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park.

Terry Bourgeois of Lockport, director of distribution and applications engineering for Praxair, Inc., has been named Chair of the Community Partners committee for The Ride 2011. Bourgeois has served as one of Praxair’s Ride team leaders since 2002. He will lead the team ambassador program, concentrating on team development and stewardship. He will also help in developing corporate partnerships, including corporate sponsors and corporate team development, offering incentives and benefits and the Roswell Riders program.

Christine Eberle of Buffalo, 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. Eberle will also help develop and implement marketing plans for the day of the event, including video, photography and media coordination.

John Hannon of Amherst, vice president of research & development at Triad Recycle and Energy, Inc, Bicycle Event Director at Adventure Cycling Association and a top Ride fundraiser, will serve as Chair of the Fitness Club committee. In this role, Hannon leads year-round community cycling events, including indoor and outdoor cycling programs, training rides, wellness initiatives and works to develop partnerships with area fitness clubs.

Jonathan Olsen of Snyder, manager of general accounting for FedEx Trade Networks and a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board since 2009, will serve as Chair of Campus Planning committee. He will be responsible for leading campus operations and safety initiatives, including overseeing logistics for on-campus areas such as ExpoVillage, RideCity and FamilyFun Town.

Steven Piotrowski of Clarence, a retired fleet manager and communications officer of the Amherst Police Department and the current interoperable communications and 911 consultant of Erie County, will serve as route planning chair for The Ride. As chair, Piotrowski will lead planning, logistics, operations and safety initiatives for all routes and rest stops available during the Ride.

Sally Russell of Buffalo, a Ride For Roswell staff member for the last five years, will also serve as the Extra Mile Club planning chair for The Ride. In this role, Russell is responsible for stewardship of the top fundraisers who raise $1,000 or more for The Ride.

The Ride For Roswell Big Wheel sponsors include LocalEdge, New Era Cap Company, Praxair, Inc, Sahlen’s, Superior Group, The University at Buffalo, Wegmans and WGRZ-TV Channel 2.

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The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, founded in 1991, is a 501(C)(3)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 Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. Roswell Park is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or e-mail AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.