FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2007

Family members, friends and survivors unite to save lives

(BUFFALO, NY) The 12th annual Ride for Roswell, presented by Wegmans, brought together more than 5,000 cyclists and 600 volunteers to raise a record $1.5 million to fuel groundbreaking research to end cancer and save lives. Over 300 teams representing families, corporations, religious and community organizations, as well as hundreds of individual riders (including 1,000 walk-up registrants) rode to honor loved ones, co-workers and friends who have courageously faced cancer; to celebrate survivorship; and to make a difference for tomorrow’s cures at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Starting and ending at Baird Point on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus in Amherst, the Ride for Roswell offered riders four routes, including 9-, 20-, 33- and 62.5-mile distances, which traveled through Amherst, Clarence, the Tonawandas and Orleans County, based on ride selection. The Ride is one of Upstate New York’s premier cycling fundraisers and is Western New York’s largest one-day biking event. Each year, the event raises essential funds to help provide leading-edge and compassionate care for over 23,000 cancer patients served by Roswell Park annually. Ride donations also provide start-up funding for new research showing the greatest potential to make a difference in the cancer fight.

Over the past several months, riders collected pledges in-person and online. Ride organizers provided tips and tools to make this fundraising easy, including customizable Web pages, prewritten postcards, letters and support materials.

"Last year, 3,200 riders raised a record $1.2 million," said John Hannon, Ride co-chair, and a cancer survivor. "Because of the increase in the number of riders committed to this cause, this year’s Ride was able to set a new record - $1.5 million."

According to Hannon and Ride organizers from the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board, the event offered "virtual rider" options for people who wanted to help raise funds, but who could not or chose not to ride, or who live out of town. Virtual riders received the same benefits as riders, including a Ride t-shirts, fundraising assistance, admission to the post-Ride picnic and party, and the opportunity to compete for top fundraising honors and prizes.

New for 2007 was the "Ride Biggest Loser Club" and contest. Over 100 riders and virtual riders weighed in to begin improving their health and registered to receive weight loss, nutrition and fitness advice. Top prizes in three weight loss categories will be announced soon, based on final weigh-ins that took place Saturday at Baird Point.
One returning amenity for top Ride fundraisers was the Extra Mile Club. Riders who raised at least $1,000 enjoyed Ride-day privileges including preferred parking and admission to the Extra Mile Club tent (which offered bike check-ups and adjustments, exclusive fresh fruit and food selections, professional massages, a reserved port-o-potty and more). Extra Mile Club members will 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.

It’s not too late to make a difference by donating to riders or teams online. Pledges will be accepted at http://www.rideforroswell.org through September 1, 2007 or call 716-845-8788.

Sponsors joining Wegmans, the Ride’s naming sponsor, to present this year’s event include: (Breakaway Sponsors) Praxair, Mississippi Mudds, Rich Products and WGRZ-TV Channel 2; (10-speed Executive Sponsors) The Edge 103.3 FM, New Era Cap Co., 97-Rock, Old Man River, WHTT 104.1 FM; (Five-Speed Executive Sponsors) Coca-Cola and Deltacraft Paper; (Grand Tour Sponsors) Capital Management, Inc. and LPCiminelli, Inc.

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The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation was founded in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization 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 (RPCI). 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 www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.