30 Years of Moments and Milestones
In 2025, Ride for Roswell is hitting an incredible milestone: 30 years. Today, the Ride is one of the largest cycling fundraisers in the country, with nearly 8,000 riders and 2,000 volunteers. This event has become a staple of a Western New York summer, and it has created a community of its own. Above all else, the Ride has raised nearly $80 million for cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Getting to where we are today was a three-decades-long journey that took commitment, innovation, flexibility and passion. Let’s revisit the big moments over the years.
1996
The first Ride for Roswell debuts on an overcast Saturday morning in late June with 9-mile, 33-mile and 62.5-mile routes. Founder Mitch Flynn, co-chair John Farmelo, route designer John Houghtaling and volunteer Sally Russell lead the small group that organizes the first event. News 4 Buffalo anchor Jacquie Walker is honorary chair. 986 riders raise $101,018.
2000
Roswell Park’s Scientific Advisory Committee awards their 150th grant to research promising cancer treatments, funded 100% by donations through events like Ride for Roswell.
2003
The Extra Mile Club is established to recognize riders who raise $1,000 or more, with 39 members in its first year.
2004
Donor-funded Quality of Life programs surpass 100 funded programs. Quality-of-Life programs are 100% funded by donations and support the mental, emotional and spiritual wellness of our patients and caregivers.
2005
The Ride celebrates its 10th anniversary with an appearance by NHL Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Sabres captain Pat LaFontaine, who rides the 62.5-mile route.
2008
The Ride crosses the $2 million mark, and the first-ever Extra Mile Club Peloton kicks off from Roswell Park, riding 12.6 miles to the University at Buffalo in light rain and a police-escorted two-by-two procession.
2011
$3 million is raised by more than 7,000 riders and donor-funded Quality of Life programs surpass 250 funded programs.
Roswell Park’s Scientific Advisory Committee awards their 300th grant to research promising cancer treatments, funded 100% by donations through events like Ride for Roswell.
2012
The Ride becomes a two-day event, with a new opening ceremony Friday night, conceived by longtime volunteer Chris Eberle. The evening features a procession of Roswell departments followed by the entrance into the UB Stadium of the Extra Mile Club Peloton.
2013
Nearly 8,000 riders bring in $4 million this year!
2014
Seed funding is provided from donations for early studies of SurVaxM.
2015
The Ride celebrates its 20th anniversary with a new 46-mile Canada route and by reaching the long-sought goal of 1,000 riders at $1,000.
2016
The 11-story Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center opens on the Roswell campus. Ride for Roswell donors are among 15 leadership gifts of $1 million or more that support the project.
2017
Pathways Park debuts to honor top fundraisers, teams and volunteers, and the Ride for Roswell ceremonial torch begins a new Ride tradition. Mitch Flynn and the Peloton carry a flame representing the spirit of Roswell Park from the hospital to the Celebration of Hope and light the new torch at the ceremony to officially kick off Ride Weekend. The torch will remain lit until the last rider returns from their route.
$1 million to the Katherine, Anne & Donna Gioia Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center, which opened in 2017.
In June, OmniSeq launched a new test called an Immune Report Card, which identifies all immunotherapies — or combinations of immunotherapies — that are likely to work best in a specific patient with late-stage cancer. The Immune Report Card was not covered by insurance at the time, but thanks to donations to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, funds covered the cost of testing for 709 Roswell Park patients.
2018
The Ride breaks $5 million for the first time.
Nearly $4 million in donations provided to fuel Roswell Park’s initial CIMAvax clinical trials.
2020
The Summer of the Ride: Ride for Roswell plans for its 25th anniversary but has to make a sharp turn in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of joining the traditional Ride Weekend at the end of June, riders choose from two ways to ride: 1. at one of our scheduled, physically distanced Rides at three locations around Western New York over three weekends in August; 2. by getting creative and riding their own way in August. Together, the Ride community raises $3.6 million for lifesaving cancer research that will benefit patients not only at Roswell Park but across the nation and around the world.
Also this year, donor-funded Quality of Life programs surpass 500 funded programs.
2024
Opening of clean rooms thanks to $10 million in donations and donor-funded Quality of Life programs surpass 750 funded programs.
2025
Celebrating 30 years of Ride for Roswell. With each rider committing to raise $200 by Ride Day, together we will reach our record-high goal of raising $6 million to continue to fuel cancer research and patient care programs.
Because of riders, donors and volunteers, the Ride has transformed Roswell Park as we know it and impacted the lives of countless cancer patients over the years. But, when we say, “to end cancer,” we mean it. And as long as these diseases continue to evolve, the Ride will be here: a place to stand in solidarity, remember those we’ve lost, honor those who are currently fighting and fuel researchers with the tools to forever change the way to treat and, eventually, cure cancer.
Are you in for the 30th anniversary?