Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Some 7,000 riders will take to several different courses Saturday in the 30th annual Ride for Roswell. The event has raised millions for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Andrea Gregory says the event started back in 1996 with 1,000 riders, raising $100,000. "This year, we are closing in on our $6 million goal with over 7,000," says Gregory. She says riders chose from nine different route options, including one that goes through Canada. "They range from just four miles to 100 miles. So it really allows everyone the opportunity to participate," explains Gregory.
Festivities begin Friday with the Celebration of Hope, which Gregory says offers the community an opportunity to come together in a rally against cancer, celebrating the survivors, patients and Roswell Park heroes. The evening will feature the arrival of the Peloton, a group of 125+ top fundraisers who ride two-by-two from Roswell Park to UB as well as an Olympics-style procession of Roswell Park doctors, nurses, researchers, patients and survivors and a Parade of Teams, celebrating teams that have raised more than $10,000 this year. The lighting of the torch by this year’s honoree Mitch Flynn, the founder of Ride for Roswell. Mitch is lighting the torch on behalf of the entire Ride Community.
Gregory says over the years, the Ride for Roswell has raised $86 million for Roswell Park. "It helps patient care programs, so it's helping the current patients that are going through treatment and then the research side of things, so the funds are going towards the most pressing needs," explains Gregory. "It's the clinical trials that are cutting edge that is what makes Roswell super unique and really important here locally in our community and around the world." She says the Ride also helps out seed funding. "We have our researchers that have an idea, and they want to see where it can go, and so the ride helps fund those ideas, get them off the ground and grow them."
Gregory says the Ride can always use volunteers, and if you're interested, you can call 716-THE-RIDE. Donations are also welcome. "Our riders would love donations. If you're interested in making a donation to a rider that you know you can visit Rideforroswell.org.