6,000 cyclists in the Ride For Roswell raise $1.7 million for cancer research
Pedal power raises hope in addition to money
The Ride For Roswell has a way of making big money makers out of unexpected people.
It’s the reason 10-year-old Alex Grano raised $10,000 by holding a basketball tournament in the half court in his backyard in Amherst.
Alex was the top earner of the younger-than-18 set for the 13th annual Ride For Roswell on Saturday. He said he was motivated by his father, who survived cancer as a youth, to start the “Knockout Cancer” tournament to contribute to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute fundraiser.
“We come to be upbeat and hope that all the money Alex raised will help make more survivors,” said Jackie Grano, Alex’s mother.
The fundraiser, based at University at Buffalo’s North Campus, drew 6,000 cyclists who raised more than $1.7 million for cancer research at Roswell Park.
Cyclists completed courses to and from the campus, ranging from 8 miles to 62.5 miles. About 130 people rode in a new peloton course, reserved for participants who raised more than $1,000, that began at the institute and ended at the UB campus. About 300 qualified for the special course.
“Just the sight of Roswell really helped connect what it’s all about,” said Jackie Grano, who rode the 13.3- mile peloton course with Alex.
A layer of clouds sprinkled rain on cyclists during the rides. But several participants said they would have come out even if the rain had persisted.
“If the weather gets bad and the ride starts getting tough — well, people [with cancer] have it much tougher,” said Jeff Hazel, who was riding in memory of his uncle.
For Brian and Mary Rupert of Alden, the annual event is a chance for their family to spend a day together remembering their 8-year-old daughter who died of leukemia 10 years ago.
While cancer survivors celebrated a new lease on life and corporate teams competed for record earnings, the Rupert family, including Jon, 19, and Chloe, 7, use the event to bond over their loved one’s memory.
Brian said the family raised $2,000 to show appreciation for the happy times Roswell Park afforded his daughter in the last year of her life.
“When she was in the hospital, they made it fun for her,” he said. “It was not a hospital stay at all — very personable.”
Other family teams enlisted dozens of people for fundraising campaigns.
Starting with eight members four years ago, the “Chief’s Spirit” team had 48 people participating in this year’s fundraiser in memory of Mark Williams, said Nancy Hazel, Williams’ sister.
She said Williams, who friends called “Chief” after Celtics basketball great Robert Parish, died of esophageal cancer in 2006 when he was 41. The team created “Chief’s Spirit” shirts with the Celtics mascot in tribute to Williams’ love of basketball.
Michael Forth of North Tonawanda participated in the fundraiser for the first time this year after his son fought and won a two-year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer.
Forth said after he learned of the fundraiser he created Team GRRRR, which stands for “Good Riddance to Rhabdo, Ride for Roswell.”
Team GRRRR, which raised more than $22,000, celebrated in a tent decorated with inflatable animals.
“It’s one way of giving back to Roswell,” Forth said. “They saved my son’s life.”
The fundraiser wrapped up with an award ceremony that recognized the biggest earners. Gordon Gross, former member of Roswell Park’s governing board, raised the most for an individual with $22,306. The highest earning team was Praxair Inc. with $59,341.
