I’ve been dreading this post for weeks, but here we go. On June 22nd, I'll be participating in the 2024 Ride for Roswell, biking 65 miles to raise funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. This will be my second time participating in the Ride for Roswell, but as I said last year, it will certainly not be my last. I am still in awe of the over $17,000 we were able to raise last year with your help.
When I set off last year on the 45-mile ride, we said that our goal for this year was to have my mom join me on the 2024 ride. We truly believed that to be possible, because we had hope. It was Roswell Park that gave us that hope. We had witnessed them work miracles for our family before. At the time, we truly couldn't have imagined we'd be heading into this ride having just lost her.
While our days are still filled with trying to process this hole in our universe, the fight at Roswell presses on for so many others. I’ve never known someone as selfless with their time and energy as my mom. I can think of no better way to honor her than to continue to support this wonderful institution. With mom’s passing, we are now establishing the Susan G. Wood Endowment Fund at Roswell Park. Every dollar raised by me, or any other riders who join our ride team, "Susan's Army", will be directed towards the endowment, which will forever provide funding to support the cutting-edge research and patient quality-of-life teams at Roswell that worked tirelessly and passionately to fight for our mother, and supported our family through our darkest times.
Money donated to Cancer research makes a real impact in all of our lives, as we've all been touched in some way by this horrific disease. Roswell Park saved my mom’s life 25 years ago. They gave us 25 years of love, laughter, and memories. They gave us holidays, graduations, and weddings. They gave her six beautiful grandchildren their Mema. That’s real. That’s measurable. That is the impact of Roswell Park and each and every one of the dollars we raise in funding.
Whether you loved my mom, you hate cancer, or you just want to see if my lower back can survive a 65-mile bike ride on limited newborn parent sleep (or all of the above), please consider joining me in raising money for this amazing organization. For every dollar donated, Roswell Park can leverage an additional $23 in new grant funding.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you and FUCK CANCER!
