Celebration of Hope ceremony Friday night and Ride Day on Saturday morning at the University at Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY – Since 1996, Ride for Roswell has become a staple of a Western New York summer. The two-day event is filled with fantastic visuals and compelling stories of courage and hope. More than 7,000 fundraisers, more than 1,000 volunteers and countless supporters join in the mission to end cancer on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28.

The 2025 Ride Weekend begins Friday with Celebration of Hope, a community event to honor cancer survivors, remember those we’ve lost and celebrate all the heroes who are fighting for cancer cures. The event continues Saturday for Ride Day when riders embark on routes ranging from 4 to 100 miles every 20 minutes from 6 – 10:40 a.m. There are nine routes to choose from, including one through Canada.

Ride for Roswell is special every year, but this year is particularly monumental as the event hits its 30th anniversary. Since its inception in 1996, Ride for Roswell has raised nearly $86 million for cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2025, we aim to raise $6 million, the highest annual total in the event’s three-decades-long history.

Here is an overview of what to expect this weekend.

Friday, June 27: Celebration of Hope at UB

The Celebration of Hope is a moving event designed to honor the collective spirit of Roswell Park as the heart of Western New York’s fight against cancer. The event kicks off Ride Weekend and offers the community an opportunity to come together in a rally against cancer, celebrating the survivors, patients and Roswell Park heroes. The evening will feature:

  • the arrival of the Peloton, a group of 125+ top fundraisers who ride two-by-two from Roswell Park to UB
  • an Olympics-style procession of Roswell Park doctors, nurses, researchers, patients and survivors
  • a Parade of Teams, celebrating teams that have raised more than $10,000 this year
  • the lighting of the torch by this year’s honoree Mitch Flynn, the founder of Ride for Roswell. Mitch is lighting the torch on behalf of the entire Ride Community.

The Celebration of Hope is free and open to everyone.

When: Friday, June 28 from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Map: View a full event map here.

Where: University of Buffalo North Campus in Governors C & D Lots.

Parking: University at Buffalo North Campus, Governor’s B Lot.

Saturday, June 28: Ride Day at UB

More than 7,000 riders and 1,000 volunteers will participate in the Ride on Saturday, June 28. Riders will start from UB every 20 minutes from 6 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. with routes ranging from 4 to 100 miles. The start line is on Lee Road and will be emceed by various Roswell Park leaders. The finish line is located on Hamilton Road near the Rider Team Tent Village and the lunch tent. View a map of the event here.

New this year: At the finish line throughout Ride Day, cancer patients and survivors will be ringing the Victory Bell to celebrate milestones in their cancer journeys.

The Ride Community is filled with hundreds of cancer patients and survivors, thousands of friends and family members who have been by their side and Roswell Park employees who are on the front lines every day.

When: Saturday, June 28. Riders cross the start line every 20 minutes beginning at 6 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. and start crossing the finish line as early as 9:30 a.m.

Where: University at Buffalo, North Campus, enter at White Road

Who: Thousands of riders, patients, survivors and volunteers will gather at UB.

Parking: Park in the Fargo Lot, located closest to the Start Line on Lee Road. To get to the Fargo Road Lot drive down Skinnersville Road to Frontier Road to Hamilton Road. Google Maps pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gfACVj8PEavoDcy66.