More than 8,000 Cyclists Take on The Ride For Roswell to Find Cancer Cures and Save Lives

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Ride For Roswell, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s largest fundraiser, welcomed more than 8,000 riders, who traveled on routes ranging from 3 to 100 miles today, each starting and ending at the University at Buffalo (UB), Amherst Campus. 

The 18^th annual event, which is supported by 2,000 volunteers, raised more than $3.8 million.  The funds raised will fund cutting-edge research and patient care programs, and a portion of the funds, $1 million, will be used to advance pediatric cancer care. In collaboration with Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Roswell Park is enhancing its specialized Pediatric Cancer Care Program to provide the very best care for families whose lives are touched by childhood cancer or blood disease.

The unforgettable weekend kicked off Friday with more than 200 cyclists saluting cancer patients outside of Roswell Park, then riding in pack formation through the City of Buffalo and into the UB stadium.  Other event highlights included an Opening Ceremony; an inspirational rally against cancer featuring a speech from former Major League Baseball star Dave Dravecky; and a concert from Grammy Award-winning artist LeAnn Rimes.

Supported primarily by Western New Yorkers, the powerful event draws people from 37 states and five countries who all share the same goal: to support Roswell Park’s mission to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Among the list of Ride supporters this year are Thomas Doody of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Brian Green of Washington, D.C.; Dail Field of Norfolk, Va., and Bradley Wood, who resides in South Korea.

Doody and his family members rode in honor of his uncle, a Buffalo resident who lost his battle with cancer. The family rides together to honor his uncle’s passing and create hope for others. This was their seventh ride. 

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 was a virtual rider in The Ride For Roswell. A virtual rider is someone who fundraises and enjoys the same perks as riders but does not physically ride a bike. Green’s team, DC Virtual Riders, has recruited seven members in the D.C. area

Fields received cancer treatment at Roswell Park three years ago and returned to ride in the Ride For Roswell Peloton as a cancer survivor.

Wood traveled from South Korea to join his father-in-law, a Buffalo resident, at The Ride. He made this journey from across the world for the fourth time to ride in honor of a friend who 13 years ago, at the age of 16, lost his battle with bone cancer.

“The Ride For Roswell supports the quest to find cures and save lives, and the money raised is so important to the funding of vital research and patient care programs that are critical to the thousands of people we treat every year,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP, President and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “But its meaning goes much deeper than that for our patients, survivors, families, employees and volunteers.  It’s a chance to honor a loved one, to take action, to make a difference, to bring hope and healing to so many people whose lives have been touched by this terrible disease. We are honored that so many people in our community and beyond have chosen to stand behind Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and support the important and pioneering work we do right here in Buffalo.”

Support for The Ride For Roswell is generously provided by:

PRESENTING SPONSOR: West Herr Automotive Group.

BIG WHEEL SPONSORS: Wegmans; Praxair, Inc.; Superior Group; Sahlen’s; M&T Bank; Dunkin’ Donuts; WGRZ-TV; New Era Cap; University at Buffalo; LocalEdge; YNN.

BREAK AWAY SPONSORS: 97 Rock; 103.3 The Edge; Mix 104.1; Bison Baseball; Eberle Sciandra; Ferguson Electric; Flynn & Friends; LAMAR; Mississippi Mudds; New Buffalo Shirt Factory; Pactimo; Subway; Willson International; Zenger Group; Joy FM 96.1; WBLK 93.7; Jack FM 92.9; WYRK 106.5.

TEN SPEED SPONSORS: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo; DuPont; FedEx; First Niagara Financial Group; Modern Corporation; Rite Aid; Saia Communications; Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt.

FIVE SPEED SPONSORS: All Season’s Rental; Bert’s Bikes & Fitness; Buffalo Athletic Club; Cameron; JW Danforth, EISAI, Guerilla Video, Ingram Micro; Kmart; Linstar; Lincoln Storage; Moe’s; NFTA-Metro; Rich Products; Uncle Bob’s Self Storage; United Healthcare.

GRAND TOUR SPONSOR: AAA of Western & Central NY; Clif Bar; Hamburg Casino at the Fairgrounds; Labatt USA; Mead Supply; Triad Recycle and Energy Corp; Try-It Distributing.

HIGH GEAR & BIG TEE: BJ’s Wholesale; GEICO; Hale Northeastern; Hive Lifespan Center; Premier Group; Seneca Nation Of Indians; Verizon FiOs; Johnston Paper; NRG Business Solutions; Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.

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The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is 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. The Institute 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 www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook or Twitter.