Events Calendar

TOPIC: The Ride for Roswell

     The Ride For Roswell To End cancer (RFR), one of the nation’s largest special events, has raised over $74 million since its inception in 1996. In 2023, 8,000 cyclists raised over $5.8 million for cancer research trials, treatment, and prevention at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Let’s look behind the scenes as we prepare, plan, execute, and wrap the RFR.

     RFR Operations Manager Tom Johnston will discuss timelines, vendors, logistics, personnel, and moving parts as RFR approached a landmark 25^th anniversary and a grinding pivot in 2020, to the RFR recovery and resurgence in 2023. We will also learn a bit about the event nurtured since 2015 by RFR, the Empire State Ride To End Cancer (ESR), our 7 day, 500+ mile bicycle ride from New York City to Niagara Falls. ESR raised $2 million in 2023.

Speaker's Bio: Thomas Johnston

     Thomas Johnston has been Operations Manager for the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation since 2012 and has managed the Ride for Roswell for several years. Some of his prior roles include:

• 1981 – 2010 – Program Executive, Boy Scouts of America
• 2010 – 2012 – Site Director, Boys and Girls Clubs, Buffalo

Education Background: SUNY Empire State College, National Outdoor Leadership School

Agenda:

5:30-6:10pm - Networking

6:10-6:15pm - Chapter Updates

6:15-7:00pm - Dinner

7:00-8:00pm - Speaker

*Cash Bar*

If you have any questions about this event, feel free to contact Sue Czyrny at vp_professional_development@pmibuffalo.org