This is my sixth year riding for Rog, the fifth year that he has been treated for lung cancer. 

The 5-year survival rate of stage 4 lung cancer is 1 in 4. It goes down with age and range of metastasis. The only reason the survival rate has gone up is because of research at hospitals like Roswell. While cancer sucks and I wish he didn't need the treatment, the fact that my dad is still here and doing well is a miracle that Roswell has given to us. Words can't adequately express the gratitude I feel every day that I continue to hear my dad's voice, laugh with him, and see the love he has for his granddaughters, especially since we weren't sure he would meet his youngest granddaughter...she turns 4 in July.

Let’s see what we can do for Roswell Park in Roger’s name in 2023! Thank you!!

The original post from the first Ride after my dad's diagnosis:

August 12, 2018 was the scariest day of my life. It was the day we found out my father, Roger Foschio, had metastatic cancer. The news ripped right through me, tore my soul into pieces. After the shock and anguish, we pulled closer to hope because there was still so much we didn’t know. Within the next couple of weeks, that hope started to fade, as we discovered it was stage four lung cancer- one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

With a terrifying diagnosis and an even more heartbreaking prognosis, we tried to prepare ourselves. Doing research, going to doctors’ visits, asking a million questions, pondering all the what ifs, crying countless tears, fear, dread, depression. Memories, laughing, laugh crying, swearing (a lot), hugging, planning.

Eventually we had more answers, and some of our hope was restored when Dr. Dy at Roswell Park’s Thoracic Clinic gave us the news that my dad would be eligible for immunotherapy, which carried a better prognosis. After five rounds of chemo and starting the immunotherapy treatments, my dad’s cancer shrunk. It shrunk when they hoped it would just stay stable. We have Roswell Park and the doctors and nurses by my dad’s side to thank for that. I know he would not have received this type of treatment this fast anywhere else in New York.

My dad will be in treatment for the rest of his life, but there is hope in that. Hope that the cancer will keep shrinking, that he will be able to spend time with us, especially his granddaughters, who light him up. Hope that we can keep lecturing him, that he can continue to back seat drive, tell me to stop worrying, send voice recordings and emojis in our group chat, tell inappropriate jokes and long stories, and connect with others, even strangers.

I ride in his honor to continue to keep his hopes high, and with the intention that with the money I raise, Roswell Park can continue to give hope to patients and find a cure for cancer.

Thank you!!