Western New York Community Comes Together for 24th Annual Ride For Roswell

The Ride For Roswell presented by the West Herr Automotive Group welcomed 7,940 riders and 2,200 volunteers this weekend – the event’s largest turnout since 2015.

After an emotional Celebration of Hope event on Friday night celebrating patients and survivors while remembering those we’ve lost, this morning riders embarked on 10 different routes from start lines at Roswell Park and the University at Buffalo. Participants of all ages pedaled across 14 different municipalities in Western New York and Southern Ontario, through country roads and city streets, while raising critical funds for cancer research and the fight to end cancer.

At about noon today, event organizers took to social media and large screens scattered across the UB campus to thank The Ride’s many riders, fundraisers and donors for their record-breaking support. After surpassing the $5 million mark for its first time in 2018, the 2019 event raised $5.5 million for cancer research and patient-care programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center – the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. There were more than 75,000 donations made to riders by friends and family from Western New York and across the country.

Roswell Park President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD, shared that the community can hold the cancer center accountable for every cent donated to The Ride this year.

“The generosity of our supporters is simply awe-inspiring. $5.5 million is a staggering amount, and what makes this total truly incredible is the $5, $10 and $20 gifts that added up to something bigger than any one of us could accomplish alone,” says Dr. Johnson. “Every one of these precious dollars will drive innovative research in pursuit of new breakthroughs and therapies that can change the way cancer is treated, and we are committed to sharing these discoveries with our colleagues at our fellow comprehensive cancer centers to benefit patients with cancer across the country.”

Ride Weekend kicked off on Friday with the Peloton, a 12-mile route from Roswell Park to UB that is reserved for top fundraisers. The 200 riders each raised more than $1,000 and passed a qualifying ride in order to participate. Before departing, the riders stood on the road outside of Roswell Park paying tribute to current patients by holding personal notes toward the hospital windows. Patients gathered by the windows to see the salute from the upper floors of the cancer center. The Peloton riders then headed off in two-by-two formation through the City of Buffalo and Amherst. Using an antique bike lamp, Mitch Flynn, founder of The Ride, rode with a flame representing the spirit of Roswell Park and delivered it to the Celebration of Hope to be used to light the ceremonial torch. The Peloton was welcomed by a cheering crowd into the event at UB.

The Celebration of Hope, a community-wide rally against cancer, included family-friendly activities and live entertainment, as well as opportunities to learn how funds raised by The Ride help fuel cancer research at Roswell Park. It culminated in an inspirational and emotional stage program featuring the arrival of the Peloton; an Olympics-style procession of cancer advocates, researchers and survivors; and the lighting of The Ride For Roswell ceremonial torch.

This year’s Celebration of Hope also featured a new moment. The 2019 torch-lighter, Michelle Held, is the sister of Janice Trudnowski, the woman who donated the Victory Bell to Roswell Park during her own fight with brain cancer. Patients and survivors in the crowd rang their own hand-held bells in a moment of celebration just for them.

To date, The Ride For Roswell has raised $53 million for Roswell Park since the first Ride in 1996. The event will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

2019 SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR: The West Herr Automotive Group.

REVOLUTION SPONSORS: Tops Friendly Markets; M&T Bank; Georgetown Capital.

BIG WHEEL SPONSORS: Ad Pro,Linde, Sahlen's; New Era Cap Foundation; Baillie Lumber; Spot Coffee; University at Buffalo; WGRZ-Channel 2; Cumulus Media.

TEN SPEED SPONSORS: Ingram Micro, Geico; Eberle + Sciandra; Flynn and Friends; Subway; Danforth; FedEx Trade Networks; Buffalo Bisons; Coke; Rich Products; Ferguson Electric; Kind.

FIVE SPEED SPONSORS: Modern Corporation; E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company; Revolution Buffalo; SMP; True Sense Marketing; Bristol Myers Squibb; FiveStar Bank; Roy's Plumbing; Thermo Fisher Scientific; Perry’s; Genetech; All Season; Bert's Bikes and Fitness; Hale Northeastern; Life Storage; Lincoln Moving and Storage; Mantelli Trailer Sales; Santora's; Saia Communications; Southtown Audio Video; Upstate Farms; Peak 1.