Why do you participate in the Ride for Roswell?
My father, Bob Black, has two kinds of cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-malignant melanoma. At least every six months, my dad goes in to Roswell Part to check on his WBCs to make sure his leukemia is under control. The staff at Roswell Park have always been accommodating, and the environment they provide for their patients brings comfort beyond what we’ve seen in other hospitals. I remember when his first blood test showed an elevated WBC count, I went with him to his first appointment at Roswell. It was mid-morning, and we were sitting in the lobby, Tim Horton’s in hand, waiting anxiously to be called back. In the lobby, there’s a piano that we noticed when we walked in. While we were waiting, a man sat down and started to play a tune. That was how we found out about the “Music in the Lobby” program, with a melody bringing calm to a stressful morning. I’m participating in the Ride for Roswell to help support programs like that, and to fund research to improve patient outcomes.
What is your favorite part about Ride weekend?
This is my first ride! My favorite part is going to be taking it all in and experiencing it firsthand.
What have you been doing to raise funds for the Ride?
I’ve been reaching out directly to my friends, family, and colleagues to solicit donations. I don’t have a big social media presence, so I’ve taken a more personal touch!
