cancer Archives - Ride For Roswell

Jim Mize Honored as Volunteer of the Year

Posted on September 8, 2023September 8, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Jim Mize Honored as Volunteer of the Year

Volunteers are at the core of what makes Ride for Roswell such an impactful event year after year. They keep riders safe, fed, hydrated and happy. Jim Mize embodies all the best of what it means to be a Ride for Roswell volunteer. That’s why he’s being honored as the 2023 Ride for Roswell Volunteer of the Year.

Ride Weekend

Jim began volunteering with Ride for Roswell 15 years ago and now serves as the start-line lead volunteer.

“The amalgamation of people from all different ages and groups working together for a common cause makes the Ride a very special experience.”

When asked about his secret to longevity as a volunteer, without hesitation Jim replied, “It’s the people. I love working with the Ride for Roswell team, the staff. I love working with the volunteers and interacting with the riders and spectators. It is such a fun event, and there is a great buzz, but even if you take all of that away, we’re raising funds for such a good cause – cancer research.”

The Cause

Funds raised through the Ride directly benefit cancer research and critical clinical trials at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. For Jim, that mission resonates on a personal level.

“Cancer has hit close to home many times. I never met my grandmother because she passed from cancer at the age of 37. Both of my grandfathers were lost to cancer as were my mother-in-law and my father. My father so wished he had more time here on Earth. My hope and my motivation for serving on the Ride team is to do what I can to help raise funds for cancer research so that others may have a better outcome. This organization is constantly progressing with the research and the treatments that are being developed. The progress that has been made is both encouraging and wonderful.”

Message to the next generation of volunteers

Jim describes his time volunteering with Ride for Roswell as fun and rewarding. He believes there’s a great balance between longtime volunteers and young people who have just recently joined the cause.

His message to someone considering volunteering at next year’s Ride: “Anybody who volunteers is going to find that it’s a great experience. This is one of the best events that I’ve ever been a part of from a volunteer standpoint. My overall feeling about Ride for Roswell is so good that I just want to keep coming back. I love it.”

Volunteer of the Year

Every year, dedicated members of the Ride Community are honored during a celebration in the Kathy and Joe Curatolo Pathways Park. The event shines a light on the event’s top fundraisers, teams and volunteers.

As the 2023 Volunteer of the Year, a brick with Jim’s name on it now has a permanent home in Pathways Park on Roswell Park’s campus, to be seen by employees, visitors and patients for generations to come.

“I am honored and humbled by this kind gesture. I am also grateful for the great support of Ashley Gracie, Katie Menke, Andrea Gregory and Tom Johnston. I also appreciate all of the excellent volunteers who helped with the start line on Ride Day. It is fun to be around everyone as we help raise funds for such a great cause.”

The Ride Team thanks you, Jim, for your years of incredible dedication and service!

Ride for Roswell

Team Wheel Strong’s mission to spread hope through the Ride

Posted on June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Team Wheel Strong’s mission to spread hope through the Ride

Team Wheel Strong is a fundraising powerhouse for Ride for Roswell. In 2023 alone, the efforts of more than 50 riders helped to surpass the team’s fundraising goal of $45,000.

Reflecting on Wheel Strong’s growth since the team was started only three years ago, co-captain Eliot Jimerson became emotional.

“This was not in my plans,” he said with tears in his eyes. “People suffer, and I don’t like to see that. That’s why we ride.”

How Team Wheel Strong began

Eliot felt the same helplessness so many of us do when someone close to him lost a loved one to cancer.

He explained, “I just didn’t have any words, so I said to my daughter, “It feels like I should do more. What could we do?’”

Geneva Locke, Eliot’s daughter, came up with the idea to register for the Ride.

“We decided together as a father and a daughter that we were going to participate in the Ride, and we never knew at that time the overwhelming amount of hope and support there is around Roswell Park,” said Geneva.

Eliot added, “Everybody kept saying, ‘I want to ride,’ and it turned into a team.”

From family, to friends, to community, Team Wheel Strong became a welcome space for anyone motivated to fight back against cancer.

Community at the center

“Our team is made up largely of our community, and our home base is on the Seneca Nation Territory, but our team also branches out with other Native Nations,” said Geneva.

With riders from several other indigenous communities joining the movement, Team Wheel Strong’s efforts to raise awareness for Roswell Park spread far beyond Ride Weekend.

“It started out as community involvement. We had a lot of pop-up rides that first year because our kids wanted to get on their bikes. We would advertise these pop-up rides and charge a small fee for families,” Geneva explained. “It was more or less to provide a safe place for our community members to ride with their families on territory because we don’t have sidewalks and the roads are very busy. We would use our community center, and everybody was just so supportive.”

The more they got involved, the more they came across other people who had been affected by cancer. Those personal connections are what the team captains believe have helped Wheel Strong gain so much momentum.

“If you count all the support around us, it’s around 65 people. There are people who are involved and don’t ride, but they do a lot of the work and they’re the ones who deserve a lot of recognition,” said Eliot.

The significance of the Wheel Strong logo

It’s easy to spot a Team Wheel Strong rider because their jerseys are so unique and prominent. Coming up with a design was no easy feat.

Geneva, who was the mastermind behind the logo, explained the inspiration.

“My grandpa, who suffered from cancer, used to be able to ride a unicycle. He also had a single wheel that he would push around with this wire cord and run behind it, and the kids always thought it was a great time. So, it was important to me to include a wheel,” she exclaimed with a smile.

“We knew we wanted to have some sort of cultural touch to it and that’s where we decided to put the Hiawatha Belt, which represents the Haudenosaunee and signifies the unity of our people as well as our team.”

Designating funds from the Ride

Riders have the option to designate their fundraising dollars to a specific area of need. Several riders on Team Wheel Strong, including Geneva, are choosing to designate their funds to Roswell Park’s Center of Indigenous Cancer Research.

“If you can have something that you can identify with, that warms your heart, feels like home, especially when you’re walking into a scary situation like a cancer diagnosis, that’s what the Indigenous Center can grow to do for many of our community members that have to turn to Roswell Park every year,” said Geneva.

Looking forward to Ride Weekend

Ride Weekend is a multi-generational celebration for Eliot and Geneva’s family.

“Crossing the finish line, I think of my team. I think of my grandkids,” said Eliot. “I have my grandson who I ride with. He’s a little guy, but he does 30 miles.”

And despite the heaviness and sadness around cancer, they try to keep the atmosphere for their team one of positivity and unity.

“All I ever wanted Wheel Strong to do was provide hope for those who fight the fight. Hopefully one day we’re all just cheering for the end of cancer,” Geneva explained.

Eliot added, “There’s so much hatred in the world it seems sometimes, but when you come together for a cause and put all your differences aside, I believe that’s when miracles can happen. And that’s what I see with the Ride.”

Ride for Roswell Impact Series, powered by West Herr

Posted on June 13, 2023June 27, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Ride for Roswell Impact Series, powered by West Herr.

When you Ride for Roswell, you’re making a difference for people living with cancer right now.

The groundbreaking innovations happening each day at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center would not be possible without community support. The donors, volunteers and fundraisers who dedicate their time, talents and treasure to Roswell Park through events like Ride for Roswell are fueling lifesaving clinical trials, critical cancer research and compassionate patient care programs that reach thousands of patients.

Here you will find all four episodes of the Ride for Roswell Impact Series, powered by West Herr. Through this series, you can experience the full spectrum of care your support provides to cancer patients seeking hope at Roswell Park.

Part I: CAR T-cell Therapy.

Part II: Quality-of-Life Programs.

Part III: Response to Therapy.

Part IV: SurVaxM.

Part I: CAR T-cell Therapy

Learn more.

Part II: Quality-of-Life Programs

Learn more.

Part III: Response to Therapy

Learn more.

Part IV: SurVaxM

Learn more.

To learn more about your impact, watch WGRZ Channel 2 for a special 30-minute program spotlighting the work being done at Roswell Park. You can stream the TV special online or tune in at one of the following times:

June 25 at 11:30 a.m.
June 27 at 7 p.m.
July 10 at 12:30 p.m.
July 17 at 12:30 p.m.
July 22 at 12 p.m.
July 23 at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
July 24 at 12:30 p.m.
July 29 at 12 p.m.

Thank you for supporting Ride for Roswell and our mission to end cancer.

Your Ride fuels a lifesaving brain cancer vaccine

Posted on June 12, 2023June 28, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Your Ride fuels a lifesaving brain cancer vaccine

When you commit to Ride for Roswell, you’re making an impact on patients who are facing some of the most terrifying news of their life: a cancer diagnosis.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer with a usually pretty scary prognosis. It doesn’t typically respond well to standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiation in the long run. Scientists at Roswell Park wanted to do something about that, so about 15 years ago, they set to work developing a new treatment option.

A brain tumor vaccine called SurVaxM now in a phase 2b clinical trial was developed at Roswell Park by Robert Fenstermaker, MD, Chair of Neurosurgery, and Michael Ciesielski, PhD, Director of the Neuro-Oncology Lab. This unique immunotherapy treatment vaccine, now being developed by MimiVax, targets survivin, a protein that helps cancer cells stay alive. Drs. Fenstermaker and Ciesielski have been moving the clinical trial forward every step of the way.

This endeavor has been funded by donor support since 2014 through the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.”

Through clinical trials, this vaccine has given hope to many patients, including a 26-year-old man named Avery Richmond. Avery has been a farmer all his life. He has his wife Kelsey welcomed newborn son Teddy in 2022. Two months later, Avery collapsed, leading to the discovery of a lemon-sized tumor on his brain. Glioblastoma took this young family by surprise, but their resilience and the hope brought by the SurVaxM clinical trial have them giving thanks for every precious moment together.

Thanks to Ride for Roswell donors and participants, patients like Avery get more time with their loved ones and permission to hope for a brighter tomorrow.

SurVaxM was recently featured nationally on NBC News.

Dr. Emese Zsiros: Researching and riding for cancer cures

Posted on May 31, 2023June 9, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Dr. Emese Zsiros: Researching and riding for cancer cures

Dr. Emese Zsiros’ work at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has two main facets: treating women with cancer and researching to find the next cure. As the Chair of the Department of Gynecological Oncology, her passion stretches from the clinic to the community.

Riding to end cancer.

Dr. Zsiros came to Roswell Park in 2014, and Ride for Roswell was one of the first fundraising events she participated in as a team member.

“At that time, I only had one daughter. She was four years old. It was a huge honor and really emotional to be able to participate in the Celebration of Hope, to be able to walk with our patients in the procession, to be able to raise money and awareness of gynecologic cancers, but also to able to show my daughter what Mommy and Daddy are doing.”

Dr. Zsiros’ husband, Dr. Gyorgy Paragh, is also a physician at Roswell Park. He serves as the Chair of the Department of Dermatology. During that first Ride Weekend as a family, Dr. Zsiros says their daughter could sense the love and gratitude from the patients.

“Just seeing the enthusiasm of the crowd cheering for the cancer patients, cheering for the Peloton riders, cheering for the physicians as you’re walking through the procession, I remember it really left a big mark on her.”

Nine years later, they have four children – all of whom will be riding this summer and walking in the procession at the Celebration of Hope.

“I have twin boys, and they typically walk with my husband’s team. Our two girls will be walking with me and the gynecology patients, representing women.”

Full spectrum of care.

Cancer care is not one-size-fits-all, and Dr. Zsiros prides herself on really getting to know the women she serves.

“We walk the path together, from the time of diagnosis, the surgery, all the chemotherapies until their cancer journey is through.”

It’s because of those relationships that Dr. Zsiros is even more motivated to discover new breakthroughs that can improve and extend life.

“My research focuses on ovarian cancer research and immunotherapy. I think this is a deadly disease that typically doesn’t get a lot of attention. Part of that is because it affects women, but a minority of women,” Dr. Zsiros explained. “When the mother falls ill, it tends to affect the entire family due to her common role as the primary caregiver. This type of research not only assists our patients directly but also has a broader impact, often benefiting multiple generations under the familial umbrella she heads.”

Staff members with the Department of Gynecological Oncology stand by those families every day at Roswell Park, but they also come together to show their support during Ride Weekend.

Team Roswell.

Since Dr. Zsiros became chair of the department, she has encouraged the entire gynecology staff to get involved with Ride for Roswell. Last year, they even had special shirts made for their team.

“The entire gynecologic oncology team came together as a cohesive unit, providing an invaluable experience for our team members. This momentous occasion allowed us to connect with this community and the Roswell family deeply, transcending our regular daily work routines.”

Her message to other Roswell Park employees considering signing up: “Don’t think about it twice, because it is so much fun!”

Fun and fulfilling. From raising critical funds for cancer research, to pushing yourself physically while riding, Ride Weekend is something Dr. Zsiros and hundreds of other riders look forward to all season long.

“Last year I took on a longer route and it was challenging. The heat was intense, and navigating through it was strenuous. But I felt so accomplished and so happy by the end of the day that I did something meaningful. I really wouldn’t have given up that opportunity for anything else.”

She explained that Ride for Roswell showcases what it means to be a part of the Roswell Park community.

“We are really in this together: health care providers, patients, researchers and family members.”

How to raise $1,500 by Ride Day

Posted on May 31, 2023May 31, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

How to raise $1,500 by Ride Day.

Ride Day less than one month away! Have you reached your fundraising goal yet? If not, don’t worry! There is still time to maximize your impact. We have some ideas to help you hit $1,500 (making you a member of the Extra Mile Club) in time for Ride Weekend.

Get social!

Utilize social media as a tool to help you reach your fundraising goals. Share your fundraising page on all your social platforms to spread the word about your why, and encourage friends, family and coworkers to donate to your fundraising page.

Host a team event.

Hold a team fundraiser! From a yard sale at a team member’s house where everyone can bring items to sell, to a potluck dinner where you charge guests a small fee to attend, the possibilities are endless. Post your event to your social media accounts to promote it!

Once your event is done, the funds raised can be turned in and divided evenly among the team members to count toward their fundraising pages. This is a great way to help team members who are hesitant about reaching their goal.

Lean on your strengths.

Use your unique gifts to make a positive impact. We encourage riders to personalize their fundraising strategy to their strengths and interests – making the journey fun and rewarding in more ways than one. Love crafting? Consider selling your creations for the cause! Do you have a skill you can teach others? Host a lesson and put the proceeds toward your fundraising total! There are so many opportunities to align your passions with Ride for Roswell’s mission.

The rule of 10.

Make a list of 10 people, ask them to contribute $25 each, and you’ll be shocked at how quickly the dollars add up! That will get you up to $250, earning your first rewards! If you need a good place to start, here is an example.

Ask > 3 friends > 2 co-workers > 1 neighbor > 4 family members.

Find a community partner.

Visit local businesses and ask them about ways they can help you raise funds for your Ride. They may donate or offer you a space to promote your Ride.

Ask, ask, ask … and ask again.

So many people have been impacted cancer. Whether they’ve lost a loved one to cancer, know someone who is a survivor or are battling the disease themselves, people want to make a difference! The more you share what you’re doing, the more people will choose to donate. Kathy Caruso of Team ‘Otterly’ Phil says it best; “A penny or a pound, it's all forward motion.”

Get social! Utilize social media as a tool to help you reach your fundraising goals. Share your fundraising page on all your social platforms to spread the word about your why, and encourage friends, family and coworkers to donate to your fundraising page.
Host a team event: Hold a team fundraiser! From a yard sale at a team member’s house where everyone can bring items to sell, to a potluck dinner where you charge guests a small fee to attend, the possibilities are endless. Post your event to your social media accounts to promote it!
- Once your event is done, the funds raised can be turned in and divided evenly among the team members to count toward their fundraising pages. This is a great way to help team members who are hesitant about reaching their goal.
Lean on your strengths: Use your unique gifts to make a positive impact. We encourage riders to personalize their fundraising strategy to their strengths and interests – making the journey fun and rewarding in more ways than one. Love crafting? Consider selling your creations for the cause! Do you have a skill you can teach others? Host a lesson and put the proceeds toward your fundraising total! There are so many opportunities to align your passions with Ride for Roswell’s mission.
The rule of 10: Make a list of 10 people, ask them to contribute $25 each, and you’ll be shocked at how quickly the dollars add up! That will get you up to $250, earning your first rewards! If you need a good place to start, here is an example.
1. Ask > 3 friends > 2 co-workers > 1 neighbor > 4 family members.
Find a community partner: Visit local businesses and ask them about ways they can help you raise funds for your Ride. They may donate or offer you a space to promote your Ride.
Ask, ask, ask … and ask again: So many people have been impacted cancer. Whether they’ve lost a loved one to cancer, know someone who is a survivor or are battling the disease themselves, people want to make a difference! The more you share what you’re doing, the more people will choose to donate. Kathy Caruso of Team ‘Otterly’ Phil says it best; “A penny or a pound, it’s all forward motion.”

Here’s what some team captains have done to enhance their fundraising efforts.

“A large percentage of our team donations were collected by soliciting on Facebook. We also raised quite a bit from recycling bottles and cans.” — Robby N.

“We like to have a basket raffle at our family get together every year. We also get our team members together to attend the Beers & Gears events, connect our dashboards to our Facebook pages and email friends and family.” — Bob G.

“We mostly use social media and personal outreach. We also did a virtual sign fundraiser! People could buy signs and other crafts and the proceeds were put towards our team.” — Amy V.

“We sell luminary candles all over our neighborhood. We also collect bottles and cans year-round.” — Casey C.

“I made fabric shopping bags, decorated mugs and team car decals for my team to sell!” — Geri B.

“One event that we are going to try and make as big as possible is a video game streaming event on Twitch. We’re hoping for a huge turnout for that. We’re so excited!” — Jon M.

Still need help? Feel free to call us at 716-843-7433 or email us at rideforroswell@roswellpark.org. Our in-house fundraising experts can offer additional guidance!

Chris Eberle, an active light in the Ride’s legacy

Posted on May 12, 2023May 24, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Chris Eberle, an active light in the Ride’s legacy.

Ride Weekend evokes different feelings from each participant. For some, it’s action. For others, it’s remembrance. For many, it’s hope.

Nothing brings together all those emotions better than the Celebration of Hope, an event that wouldn’t have been possible without longtime volunteer and cancer survivor Chris Eberle.

The upcoming Ride for Roswell marks two milestones for Chris: 15 years of service and six years cancer free.

A partnership begins.

Chris first began her partnership with Roswell Park in the early-2000s when she owned a design and communications firm. She was brought on to help educate the public about what it meant to be a comprehensive cancer center and the important work being done at Roswell Park.

The more she learned, the more she wanted to get involved. Soon after, she started volunteering for the Ride. Chris served on the steering committee and brought her marketing expertise to the forefront.

“When I started, the Ride didn’t have a website yet. We developed the website and the ability to register online.”

As the Ride grew, Chris’s role evolved. For example, she played a pivotal role in turning the Ride into a two-day event.

“The Ride is always on Saturday. Then we thought that we really needed another component, so we decided to have an opening ceremony and it was in the University at Buffalo Stadium. It was a way to honor the researchers, clinicians, patients and survivors and nurses.”

That was in 2012. A few years later, with Chris’ leadership, the Friday night ceremony would see another evolution into what we now know as the Celebration of Hope.

The Ceremonial Torch.

“For my 10th anniversary with the Ride, I wanted to do something memorable, something to give back to the Ride.”

Chris was the visionary for the ceremonial torch, which debuted for the first time at the Celebration of Hope in 2017.

“The flame represents the patients and survivors. It represents the compassion of our nurses and our clinicians. And it represents the brilliance of our researchers.”

Chris explained the torch would serve as a kickoff to the Ride. Much like the Olympic torch, it would stay lit from Friday night until the last rider came in on Saturday.

“And we still do that to this day,” Chris said with a smile.

The Ride team and committee, including Chris, also developed the Peloton, a Friday night ride exclusively for Extra Mile Club (now Extra Mile Club Silver) members. That route starts at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and finishes at UB right before the commencement of the Celebration of Hope.

“The [Peloton riders] bring a little light from downtown and we light the torch with that light making the connection between Roswell Park and the Ride.”

That idea that Chris spearheaded remains the central focus of Ride Weekend. While she watched it come to fruition for the first time, its message resonated even more deeply than she could’ve imagined.

Chris’s cancer battle.

One week before the Ride’s inaugural year for torch lighting, Chris was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The day we set up the torch for the first time was my first biopsy.”

Chris underwent a year of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

“It was grueling. You lose your hair, and I was told I was going to have one of the hardest chemotherapies. You just hope you make it through.”

As Chris was nearing the end of her treatment in 2018, she was honored as the Ride for Roswell Torch Lighter.

Chris lighting the same torch that she led the creation of just one year prior became a moment that reminds us all why the Ride matters: why we must continue to fight for more treatments, more research and more memories – like this one.

“It was relieving in a way to light the torch the next year because I thought, man, I made it. It was pretty amazing.”

Continuing the mission.

Shortly after the Ride in 2018, Chris rang the Victory Bell at Roswell Park, marking the end of a transformative chapter.

“I have to say, there are days that I don’t want to be reminded of my cancer, but I wouldn’t give up working for the Ride. Roswell Park saved my life.”

Message to other volunteers.

Chris’s influence on the Ride will be felt for generations to come. When asked what she would say to someone considering getting involved, she didn’t hesitate.

“Once you’ve experienced Ride weekend, you’ll never be the same. The passion, compassion and dedication of every participant, from riders, to survivors, clinicians, researchers and nurses is extraordinary. It is truly a rewarding experience to know that you are making a difference by volunteering in the fight to cure cancer.”

Chris will have another full-circle moment at the upcoming Ride. Volunteers from all of Roswell Park’s events will be invited to the 2023 Celebration of Hope, as a thank you for their dedication and commitment to the cause.

“We couldn’t raise as much as we do every year if we didn’t have all of the volunteers, and all of that money is going to save somebody in your family someday.”

Why you should become an Extra Mile Club Member

Posted on May 10, 2023May 12, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Why you should become an Extra Mile Club Member

Do you want to go the extra mile for cancer patients? Become an Extra Mile Club member!

How it works.

When you raise $1,500 or more for Ride for Roswell, you instantly become a member of the Extra Mile Club (EMC). This club is open to anyone with a passion for change and dedication to our mission to end cancer.

Perks for EMC members.

In addition to the tremendous sense of pride you’ll have from becoming an EMC member, there are some additional perks as well!

EMC members receive:

Exclusive access to the Extra Mile Club tent
Official Extra Mile Club jersey
Official Extra Mile Club hat
Complimentary dinner at the Celebration of Hope
Name listed in the 2023 Ride Magazine
VIP parking
All Rider Rewards below $1,500

There’s also an opportunity to earn an even higher designation as an EMC Silver member. EMC Silver is for riders who raise $2,500 or more.

EMC Silver members receive:

Official Extra Mile Club Silver jersey
Exclusive access for you and a guest to the Extra Mile Club Silver tent on Ride Day
Admission to the Peloton on June 23 (pending all requirements have been met)
Invitation to the Kathy & Joe Curatolo Pathways Park event celebrating top fundraisers and teams
All Rider Rewards below $2,500

Hear from current EMC members!

Don’t just take it from us, here’s what other Ride EMC and EMC Silver members have to say.

“My favorite part about being EMC Silver is the Peloton and the start of the Ride. It’s such an honor to be a part of this group of passionate riders/fundraisers, it’s so moving to launch from outside of Roswell Park, and so touching when we raise the cards with patients’ names up to the windows. While we can never really see them, but knowing that they are there looking down on us is so powerful.” – Rob Goldberg

“Getting donations for my Ride for Roswell was easy. Not because I am a supreme fundraiser or have extreme skills. It was easy because of the person I am riding in memory of, Jean Marie Gimbert, my sister-in-law. Her passing last year impacted a large family and huge circle of friends. Jean only saw the best in others and a kind word was her trademark. So, all I had to do was let a few people know that I was riding in her memory and they could go to my page and donate and we watched the donations accumulate. When you ride for someone you care about enables you to access a variety of people they touched in their lives. The family, friends, and employment network are a good beginning. Neighbors are an often-untapped resource.” – Peter Pasnik

Worried about fundraising?

No problem! Your Ride Community is here with advice.

“Social media makes it so easy now, even if you just share a link to your fundraising page and post about what you’re doing, that’s a great start.” – Gabrielle Acosta

“Push your fundraising through social media. I have raised all of my funds through Facebook and have pivoted around my birthday and other special occasions. Just ask often – it works, and you’ll be successful!” – Rob Goldberg

“What you find out is a lot of people have either had their own experience or family experience with cancer, and people want to help. It’s actually a lot easier than you realize as soon as you start putting yourself out there and letting them know about the cause. Remind people. Remind people. Remind people.” – John Heimback Jr

And that’s not all!

Our Ride for Roswell fundraising team is here to help you each step of the way.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 716-843-7433 or email us at rideforroswell@roswellpark.org.

Ride for Roswell boosts quality of life for cancer patients

Posted on May 10, 2023June 28, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Ride for Roswell boosts quality of life for cancer patients

At Roswell Park, we’re committed to improving cancer patients’ quality of life; caring for the whole person, not just treating their disease. Our work doesn’t end at medical treatment, but encompasses the mental, emotional and spiritual wellness of our patients, as well.

When you participate in or donate toward Ride for Roswell, you’re making it possible for Roswell Park experts to run Quality-of-Life Programs like these, and more!

HLA Typing

Before a patient receives a bone marrow transplant, they need to go through human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing to find a donor with the best genetic match. This process is not typically covered by health insurance when a patient needs to find a donor who is not a familial relative. Through a Quality-of-Life grant, made possible by the generosity of donations, patients have financial support through their HLA typing and transplant process.

Fertility Preservation Program for Young Adult Patients

When a young adult is battling cancer, it’s often their top priority and concern to eliminate the cancer. But cancer treatment or cancer itself can have a negative impact on a patient’s fertility or reproductive system. Through the Fertility Preservation Program, Roswell Park helps patients keep a hopeful eye on their futures and the possibilities that lie ahead. Through the generosity of donors, patients can speak with fertility experts to find the best solution for their life before treatment begins.

The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center and Elevate Salon

Going through cancer treatment can be one of the toughest times in a patient and their loved ones’ lives. Thankfully, donors fully fund The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center at Roswell Park to ease some of the stressors faced. There, patients and caregivers are greeted with warmth and compassion. They can access educational materials, comfort items and various resources to help them through their cancer journey. To accommodate for the growing patient population, Roswell Park also recently opened the Elevate Salon where experts help patients navigate hair loss. These essential spaces put patients’ needs first and allow for a safe place to take a deep breath and gather strength.

Creative Arts Team

Researchers at Roswell Park found that dedicated exposure to art improves patients’ hope and mental well-being and decreases their anxiety. The Art Heals Gallery, a curated space for patients and their loved ones to relax and immerse themselves in work by some of the area’s best artists, is fully supported by donations. The Creative Arts Team at Roswell Park is committed to providing not only incredible artwork for patients to enjoy, but art in which they can actively participate, as well, like art kits for inpatients, creative events and other experiences.

Transportation & Translation Services

Roswell Park is committed to giving patients the best possible care. If those patients can’t get to Roswell Park or have barriers to communication when they arrive, they can’t receive the care they need. Powered by donor funding, Roswell Park’s Transportation & Translation Services helps our patients access critical cancer care who might not be able to do so otherwise. There’s an increasing number of patients at Roswell Park who don’t have reliable transportation and a growing population of patients in need of translation support. Now more than ever it’s crucial to provide these services so everyone can have access to the best cancer care available to them.

Your $1 donation turns into $23 in cancer research funding

Posted on May 9, 2023May 11, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Your $1 donation turns into $23 in cancer research funding

There are many powerful ways to support Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s goal of freeing our world from the fear, pain and loss due to cancer. One of those ways is riding in or donating to the Ride for Roswell. That’s because the funds raised by the Western New York community each year at the Ride are put to work immediately, fueling cutting-edge cancer research and quality-of-life programs for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Roswell Park has the best and brightest researchers and doctors who have come from around the world to Buffalo, New York to dedicate their life to studying and treating cancer. Donations to Roswell Park through the Ride for Roswell enable breakthrough cancer discoveries and bring new treatments from the bench (lab) to the bedside (patients).

We’re proud to say that for every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park is now able to leverage an additional $23 from external grants toward that research. This is thanks to the support of the Ride and the hard work of Roswell Park researchers.

How cancer research funding works

Cancer research requires a lot of work, resources and investment. With the great wealth of talent among Roswell Park’s researchers and scientists, there are a lot of promising ideas brewing. Many of these discoveries are only able to move forward with the support of donations.

Each year, Roswell Park scientists apply and compete for grants from the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation through the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC process is led by Drs. Mukund Seshadri and Kirsten Moysich, who select an internal objective group of peers to sit on the committee based on expertise and areas of research. Reviewers are asked to thoroughly evaluate and consider the scientific promise of each application. The most promising grant applications are awarded with donor-raised funds to allow scientists to continue their cancer research.

This seed money is used for researchers to obtain primary research data and, in turn, apply for larger national grants. The initiatives that receive support often lead to long-term funding from national organizations and new treatments.

Impact of fundraising at Roswell Park

Since 2011, the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, with funds from Ride for Roswell, has awarded over $16 million to researchers through the Scientific Advisory Committee through 245 grants to 146 scientists.

These grants have led to the publication of 167 papers, the start of at least 20 clinical trials based on homegrown science at Roswell Park and the investment of over $96 million in external grant funding.

That means that for every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park receives an additional $23 in external funding for cancer research.

The dedication and commitment of riders, donors and volunteers is driving work in state-of-the-art labs that fuels discoveries that are changing the future of cancer.

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Your $1 donation turns into $23 in cancer research funding

How cancer research funding works

Impact of fundraising at Roswell Park

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