FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2008
Alicia J. Becker, 716-845-1027

New riders, teams and volunteers sought for the Saturday, June 28 event

 

(BUFFALO, NY) After a thrilling $1.7 million-raising Ride last year, team captains and top fundraisers for The Ride For Roswell gathered on Tuesday, March 11, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute to announce plans for the 2008 event, and to invite corporations, community organizations and individuals to get involved this year as riders, fundraisers and volunteers.

The Ride For Roswell 2008, presented by Wegmans, with support from Wellness Sponsor, Praxair, Inc., and Peloton Sponsor, Sahlen Packing Co., will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2008, starting and ending at Baird Point, on the University at Buffalo's North Campus in Amherst.

The Ride is one of Upstate New York's premier cycling fundraisers and is Western New York's largest one-day biking event. The event raises critically needed funding for new research showing the greatest potential to discover cancer cures and save lives. Funds raised also provide quality-of-life programs for many of the over 24,000 cancer patients served by Roswell Park annually.

This year's Ride promises to be filled with exciting turns all along the way. Riders can choose from six different routes, including 8-, 20-, 30-, 44- and 62-mile distances, which travel through Amherst, Clarence, the Tonawandas and Orleans County, based on ride selection.

New this year is the 13.3-mile Extra Mile Club Peloton, a police-escorted ride from Roswell Park Cancer Institute's campus to Baird Point, exclusively for $1,000+ fundraisers. Riders who choose this route can continue on one of the other five routes after completion of the Peloton, or simply stay and enjoy activities at Baird Point. The Extra Mile Club Peloton is limited to the first 400 riders who sign up.

Mitch Flynn, President of Flynn & Friends Advertising, founder of The Ride For Roswell, a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board since 1990 and Peloton & Wellness Chair for the 2008 Ride, said, "We are so pleased to include the Peloton ride this year. It will help us to physically show the tremendous connection and impact the Ride has to Roswell Park's patients and faculty, while demonstrating our community's solidarity in the fight against all cancers. Riders will travel two-by-two through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods of downtown Buffalo on their way to be greeted by crowds of riders, volunteers and supporters at Baird Point."

In addition to being eligible to ride in the Peloton, anyone who raises at least $1,000 by the day of The Ride will become an Extra Mile Club member. Privileges offered to these top fundraisers include preferred parking on Ride day and admission to the Extra Mile Club tent (which offers bike check-ups and adjustments, exclusive fresh fruit and food selections, professional massages, and more). Extra Mile Club members also receive access to invitation-only events such as a fall reception to be held in Kaminski Park, on the grounds of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

John Hannon, Senior Research Associate at DuPont™, a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board, and Logistics Chair for the 2008 Ride said, "We are seeking to recruit over 6,200 riders and 1,000 volunteers for this year's Ride."  

Hannon encourages businesses and organizations to take advantage of the team program offered by The Ride. "Any group of four people can come together to form an official Ride team," he said. "Participating in The Ride is a great team-building opportunity for businesses large and small, schools or community groups."

The Ride's focus on wellness will also help individuals and corporate teams to lead healthy lifestyles, while supporting Roswell Park. After registration, all riders have the opportunity to learn tips from the Ride's exercise partner, The Buffalo Athletic Club and Praxair's Wellness Program team.

The event also offers "virtual rider" options for people who want to help raise funds, but who cannot or choose not to ride that day, or who live out of town. Virtual riders receive the same benefits as riders, including online fundraising pages to make fundraising easy, access to the day-of picnic and much more.

Register today (save $5 online) or read how-to tips and stories to help you fundraise or get a team started at www.RideForRoswell.org, or call 716-845-8788. In-person presentations and recruitment kits are also available by request for any group interested in 2008 team participation. New rider orientation sessions also are listed on the Ride's website.

Sponsors joining Wegmans, Praxair, Inc. and Sahlen Packing Co. include: (Breakaway Sponsors) WGRZ Channel 2, New Era Cap Company, Mississippi Mudds and Flynn & Friends (Peloton Creative); (Ten Speed Sponsors) 97 Rock, 103.3 The Edge, Mix 104.1, FedEx, Rich Products, Dupont, The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and United Graphics; (Five Speed Sponsors)  Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo, Deltacraft Paper, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, West Herr Automotive Group, Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting Goods, Modern Corporation and The Buffalo Athletic Club; (Grand Tour Sponsors) Capital Management Services, Inc. and Marketing Technologies; (High Gear Sponsor) Progressive Direct Marketing.

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The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization formed to receive and administer funds supporting scientific and clinical research, state-of-the-art medical care, and patient-related activities at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI's website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.