20th Anniversary Ride For Roswell Raises Record-Setting $4.5 Million for Cancer Research

BUFFALO, NY — The Ride For Roswell, the single largest fundraising event in Western New York and North America’s largest single-day cycling fundraiser, concluded its 20th year this weekend by raising a total of $4.5 million for cancer research and patient-care programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Ride Weekend involved more than 8,000 participants, 2,000 volunteers and countless other supporters, and the event once again set a fundraising record. In 1996, the first Ride For Roswell had 1,000 riders who raised just over $100,000. Over the past 20 years, The Ride has raised more than $30 million for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and more than 80,000 riders and 20,000 volunteers have participated in the event.

“The money that is raised by The Ride For Roswell is critically important to our ability to find cancer cures and save lives. Because of The Ride’s success over the past 20 years, Roswell Park has made great headway in many areas of cancer research, including personalized medicine, cancer vaccines and immunotherapy. The funds that our participants raised this year will allow us to make even more progress, and will also help provide compassionate care programs for our 31,000 patients,” says Candace Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park President and CEO, Wallace Family Chair of Translational Research. “The Ride also has so much meaning for patients, employees, cancer survivors and all those who have been touched by the disease. It’s a chance to honor a loved one, to make a difference and to give hope to those who are fighting. We are so grateful for the support from the community that has allowed The Ride to be so successful and the important work at Roswell Park to continue.”

The weekend began on Friday with the Peloton, a 12-mile route from Roswell Park to UB that is reserved for top fundraisers. The 200 Peloton riders each raised more than $1,000 and passed a qualifying ride in order to participate. Before departing, the riders and stood outside of Roswell Park with names of patients in their hands while reaching up to the hospital windows in a salute to cancer patients who were looking out. The Peloton riders then rode in two-by-two formation from Roswell Park through the City of Buffalo and into UB Stadium as part of Roswell Park’s Celebration of Hope.

The Celebration of Hope, a community-wide rally against cancer, included a Mindfulness Workshop for cancer survivors and their loved ones, family-friendly tailgate activities and an inspirational and emotional stage program featuring the arrival of the Peloton and an Olympics-style procession of cancer advocates, researchers and cancer survivors. The night concluded with a concert by country music star and cancer advocate Kellie Pickler.

The Ride includes cyclists of all ages and abilities on routes ranging from 3 to 102 miles, weather permitting. As part of The Ride’s 20th anniversary celebration, a second start line was added on Roswell Park’s campus. Two new routes, including an international route to Canada, departed from the Roswell Park start line.

Support of The Ride For Roswell generously provided by:

PRESENTING SPONSOR: West Herr Automotive Group.

BIG WHEEL SPONSORS: CSX; Dunkin’ Donuts, M&T Bank; New Era Cap Co.; Praxiar; Sahlen’s Packing Co.; Tops Friendly Markets; University at Buffalo; WGRZ Channel 2.

BREAK AWAY SPONSORS: Buffalo Bisons Baseball; Cumulus; Eberle + Sciandra, Flynn & Friends, Gildan, Lamar; Pactimo; Subway; Time Warner Cable News; Townsquare.

TEN SPEED SPONSORS: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo; DuPont; FedEx; Ferguson Electric; First Niagara Bank Foundation; Modern Corporation; Teva Pharmaceuticals.

FIVE SPEED SPONSORS: Advanced Care Physical Therapy; All Season Tent Rental; Astellas Oncology; Baillie Lumber Co.; Bert’s Bikes & Fitness; Citi; Eisai; Five Star Bank; Geico; J.W. Danforth; Microsoft; Mississippi Mudds; New York Institute of Massage; Rich Products; Saia Communications; SMP; Uncle Bob’s Self Storage.

GRAND TOUR SPONSOR: Digital Service Surveillance Solutions; Dival Safety & Supplies; Guard Contracting; Hale Northeastern; Hohl Industries; Indigo Productions; James Desiderio, Inc.; Johnston Paper Products; Lincoln Storage; Mantelli Trailer Sales, Inc.; Mead Supply; NRG Business Solutions; Premier Wine and Liquor; Triad; Try It Distributing; Twin City Ambulance; Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc.

HIGH GEAR & BIG TEE: ADMAR; CH Robinson; DJB Entertainment; El Don Battery Post, Inc.; Empire Sound Productions; Hamburg Fairgrounds; Hebeler Sales and Service; JIT Toyota Lift; Mohawk Truck, Inc.; Niagara Implement; NOCO; Pariso Trucking; Patrick Cray; Southtown Audio Video; U-Haul Co. of WNY; US Food Service; Z & M AG and Turf.

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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 and Twitter.