FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2008

The third annual Saddle Up for Roswell horse riding event will feature a special guest to assist participants this year: Olympic equestrian rider Darren Chiacchia, whose heartbreaking injury and incredible recovery amazed Western New Yorkers and the nation in early 2008.

This Team Cure fundraiser, held on September 20 at the Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center in Gasport, NY, will test the talents of horses and their riders in three phases: dressage, stadium jumping and cross country as they raise funds in support of cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Riders will carry the name(s) of those they ride in honor or in memory of on their saddle pads.

Chiacchia, a Victor, NY, native, will assist participants in a course walk-through at the event. In March 2008, Chiacchia was riding in horse trials in Tallahassee, FL, when his horse stumbled and somersaulted, leaving Chiacchia severely injured. While he was unable to participate in trials for the Beijing Olympics, Chiacchia's miraculous recovery allowed him to return to riding just months after his injury.

To date, Saddle Up for Roswell has raised more than $25,000 for Roswell Park. To participate or learn more, click here.

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@rpswellpark.org.