Celebrating the 30-Year Riders
The first Ride for Roswell in 1996 drew a crowd of 986 people. Today, the now two-day event brings in nearly 8,000 fundraisers. The Ride Community is always growing, and a few riders have been around to see it all.
Join us in congratulating the riders who have been a part of every Ride Weekend for the last 30 years.
- Al Lowman
- Joanie Hays
- Maria Frisina
- Matthew Young
- Mitch Flynn
- Monica Neuwirt
- Pamela Bouquin
- Patricia Lord
- Rich Ersing
- Rose Boy
- Steve Pusatier
- Thomas Kloc
Memories over three decades of the Ride
A few of our 30-year riders shared their most impactful Ride for Roswell moments. Keep reading to take a stroll down memory lane.
Al Lowman
Like so many others, I made my first ride thinking of those close to me, who had been struck by cancer. On my first ride, I was not ready. My bike was not ready. My tires were not properly inflated. I struggled to finish that first ride. Afterwards, I was determined to return for the next ride and do better, and I did.
Many years and rides later, I was joined on the Ride by my son, Eric, home from the army and Iraq. In 2013, Eric and I decided to do more miles and rode the route from UB to Canalside.
In 2024, Eric and I were joined by my granddaughter Natalie, making her first Ride for Roswell. I look forward to more memories and milestones riding for Roswell: being joined by my granddaughter Lucia on the Ride and surpassing my goal of $200,000 to be raised for Roswell Park.
I would say to someone considering participating in the Ride that the experience is unique. It is not just a bike ride. On Ride Day, I feel a fraternity with not only my fellow riders, but with the volunteers, the police and fire personnel directing traffic, and the cheerleaders and bystanders along the route. There is positive energy emanating from the Ride that is awesome.
Maria Frisina
I have so many photos and SO my memories over the last 30 years, from the first year thinking, ‘How am I going to finish 10 miles?’ to the following year signing up for the 33 Country route, and riding the Peloton with a mask on in summer 2020 during the pandemic!
My nephew Gabriel, niece Liliana and son Antonio have all participated in Ride for Roswell. I pulled all three since they were 1.5 years old.
In the early 2000’s, I signed up as a Ride Committee Volunteer and was in meetings with Mitch to help brainstorm ideas. We worked to plan plan the Extra Mile Club and the Peloton.
I remember showing up at Roswell Park at 4:30 a.m. for the first Peloton, back when the Peloton and Ride Day were both on Saturday. The Peloton arrived at UB at 7 a.m. and I took a quick snack break and hopped back on my bike for the Country route at 7:30 a.m. Those were the days!!!!
Matthew Young
I began riding in 1996 because I worked at the TV Media sponsor. Channel 4 at that time. They put together a team, and I joined. One of those members is also a 30-year rider, Rich Ersing. One of our team members knew Mitch Flynn and introduced me that first year. I now speak with Mitch at every get-together.
I continue to ride each year because I’ve always felt it was a great cause, and I have seen new and better treatments developed over these 30 years.
I always encourage anyone who shows any interest in the Ride to sign up and do it. I explain that there are short and long routes to fit everybody’s comfort level and that the Celebration of Hope is very inspiring. I look at it that they threw a party in 1996, and I just didn’t leave. I have many memories over this time. I have to say riding into the stadium in the first Peloton is my favorite.
Mitch Flynn
My favorite memory of the Ride was in Year 1 when I encountered pediatric cancer patient Katy DeGirolamo and her dad, Jim, at the very end of the 9-mile route. What was remarkable about it was that Jim, in a sweat-soaked T-shirt on a hot and humid day, was kick-pushing Katy’s trike every 20 feet or so to get her to the finish line. I took pictures while she whooped with glee with every push. The experience of meeting them on the road convinced me that the Ride would be a success. Katy was Year 1’s top fundraiser.
Pat Lord
I signed up for the first Ride for Roswell because I thought it would be a fun biking experience. My motivation soon changed as I came to realize what the Ride was really about. The outpouring of community support for this event was staggering, and sharing the roads with survivors and family and friends remembering loved ones became extremely moving to me.
My most poignant memory was greeting Joe Sleap at the starting line in 2011. Joe was a church friend and my tax preparer who was trying to ride 58 miles in memory of his mother Joan who had lost her battle with lung cancer the previous April. Joe was in the midst of his treatments for colon cancer. He completed his miles and raised $11,000 for Roswell Park. His son and family biked the 2012 Ride in his memory.
Stephen Pusatier
I have done every year of Ride for Roswell. I look forward to each year as much as I did the first year. I continue to ride to give something back for what Roswell Park did for us. On December 18, 1995, my 20-year-old daughter Sarah was rushed to the hospital with a large aggressive lymphoma in her chest. The team saved her life and she lived 25 years without a relapse. I recommend Ride for Roswell for two reasons. One, it’s a wonderful day of riding with support stations every few miles. Two, we are very fortunate to have this hospital, so let’s help it in every way we can.
Pamela Bouquin
I have ridden all 30 years, this will most likely be my last, since I am now in my 70s. I rode the first year because I was looking for a bike ride, but as the years went by, I started losing friends to cancer or having those living with it or battling it. My best friend passed away 11 years ago from multiple myeloma. I have ridden in her honor and now in her memory. I have memories of hot, sweaty rides and rides where I was rained on and soaked. I did the 100 miles once, then mainly 60 miles.
I made the decision to keep riding to hope to see the end of cancer. I would tell anyone looking to participate to ride from the heart first.
It’s not too late to be a part of this milestone year.
Whether it’s your 30th Ride, your first or somewhere in between, the dollars you raise are making a difference for cancer patients right now and paving the way for the next generation of cancer care.
