Search Empire State Ride

Meet First Time ESR Rider Jenine Trzewieczynski

Before signing up for the Empire State Ride, the longest bike ride Jenine had completed was 35 miles. So what’s inspiring her to set out on a 500+ mile journey?

How did you find out about the Empire State Ride?
I work for the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, which organizes the Empire State Ride.

What inspired you to sign up?
I am inspired every single day at Roswell Park to do something. In my role with the Foundation, I often meet patients. Their fortitude, optimism, kindness, and incredible acceptance of hope inspires me daily.
Terry Bourgeois, the founder of the ESR and a dedicated ambassador for Roswell Park, spoke at an Alliance meeting last fall and shared a video from the 2016 ride. It took only that short video for me to know that this was the something I could do on my own way to feel I was able to offer support and hope for each of these incredibly strong, courageous people I have met, and will continue to meet, who are enduring their fight against cancer.

What is your history as a cyclist? Have you ever done anything similar to the Empire State Ride?
Other than some leisure rides around the neighborhood with my dog joining along in a milk crate, I have not done anything of the sort. I did ride the one-day 35-mile Tour De Farms this past August in Buffalo.

How are you fundraising for the ride?
I’m using Facebook, writing letters, emailing old contacts — just good old fashioned asking! I am also making a $1,000 gift myself to my fundraising efforts.

What do you hope to accomplish by raising funds and completing the ride?
I hope to provide a little hope and support — if even for just a moment — to someone battling cancer. I already know the funds raised will support the incredible, pioneering research that takes place at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. It is very easy to fundraise for Roswell Park because I know each dollar raised is critical, respected, and well spent.

What are you most looking forward to about the ride?
I am looking forward to meeting incredible people inspired to do something good. I’m looking forward to sharing an adventure with like-minded individuals — raising money for an incredible cause, incredible organization, a most important mission. And I’m looking forward to the adventure of one hell of a ride — I have no idea what I’m really in for!

Genetic Test Funded By Your Support

Lung Cancer Fighter Finds Hope – With Your Help

Kathy Kait is an active 70-year-old woman. She walks at least three miles every day, rides her bicycle often, and does yoga. She eats healthy, makes smoothies for breakfast, and she doesn’t smoke.
So when she began noticing some minor symptoms — like fatigue and shortness of breath — she didn’t think too much of them.
“I was running up the stairs carrying laundry and noticed that I had to stop and catch my breath,” she said. “I felt otherwise OK, so I thought I might have a cold or pneumonia.”
She paid a visit to her doctor, who did X-rays. But instead of pneumonia, he found numerous tumors in her lungs and lesions on her skull. She was told she had lung cancer — and that the disease had already spread.
Understandably, Kathy was shocked.
“I was feeling pretty healthy overall, and there isn’t a lot of cancer in my family,” she said. “My mom died in her 90s and my dad died in his 80s, so I was thinking I had a lot of time ahead of me and that I was going to be able to enjoy retirement and spending time with my five grandchildren.”
An initial genetic test of Kathy’s tumor came back negative, meaning that new, cutting-edge treatments weren’t an option. As she began radiation and chemotherapy, Kathy tried to keep her spirits up — but as a retired nurse practitioner, she knew that the prognosis for lung cancer was bleak.
After a few rounds of treatments, her doctor suggested they retest her tumor with a new, more sensitive genetic test that had been developed at Roswell Park. The one-of-a-kind tool, called OmniSeq Target™, looks for cancer-causing mutations that can be targeted with personalized drugs that are more effective than traditional therapies like radiation and standard chemotherapy.
Many insurance companies weren’t covering the cost of OmniSeq Target™ yet, though, because the test was relatively new. Thankfully, the money raised by individuals like you provided the necessary funding so that all patients who could benefit from the test, including Kathy, had access to it.
For Kathy — and more than 600 other patients — your participation in the Empire State Ride has made all the difference. OmniSeq Target™ revealed that Kathy’s tumor did have a mutation, and that it could be targeted with a new treatment that would likely do a better job of keeping her cancer at bay: a once-a-day pill that she could take at home.
“When I got the test results, I was absolutely ecstatic,” she said. “My perspective completely changed. I went from having little hope to having new, magnificent hope.”
She’s been on the new treatment for more than a year now, and her most recent scans showed that her tumors are shrinking.
“I’m just so grateful, and I feel great,” she said. “I might not live until I’m 93 like my mother did, but because of this treatment, I’m enjoying the time that I do have. I’m thankful for the riders and the donors who helped make this test possible. There is so much exciting research going on at Roswell Park, and that makes me hopeful.
Scientists at OmniSeq, a Roswell Park partner, have further advanced the OmniSeq Target™ test to identify even more actionable gene mutations for certain types of cancer and save more lives. Thanks to the dollars that covered the cost of the new OmniSeq Comprehensive test, scientists have been able to justify its value to insurance companies, resulting in broader coverage for Roswell Park patients.
You can help the world-class scientists at Roswell Park develop other exciting treatments for patients like Kathy. Sign up to join us on the Empire State Ride or kickstart your fundraising today.

Training for a Long Distance Ride

Get Training Tips from Empire State Ride Veterans!

Whether you’re a newbie to bicycling or a seasoned pro, you can complete the Empire State Ride — and have fun doing it!
Just take it from five Empire State Ride veterans, who signed up for the Empire State Ride with varying levels of cycling experience. We asked them to share with us their training advice for new riders who may be new to bicycling or nervous about mileage. Here’s what they had to say:
“You will be amazed how quickly your body can adapt once you start training. Your back side is going to hurt and your head will feel really heavy during your first few long rides. In a matter of no time you will feel amazing, accomplished, and stronger than ever. You will be looking forward to the next ride with your Empire State Ride family!”
“For me wasn’t the physical challenge — but the mental one. So one day I rode from Buffalo to Rochester alone. I posted the trip on Facebook so everyone knew I was safe and had fun. Once I arrived, 76 miles later, it was then that I knew I could finish the Empire State Ride.”
“Start training early. But don’t think, ‘Oh gosh, 540 miles and those hills?!’ Take it easy and slow. The Empire State Ride is not a race. If you treat it as such, you will burn out very quickly.”
“Listen to your body. If you’re tired, slow down or take a break.”
“Personally, I have an active imagination so I like to talk aloud (often to myself) when I ride. I pretend I’m on television and all my fans are watching and cheering for me. Talking helps me breathe better and helps me keep my mind off the mileage.”
“Core training is key. Conditioning and a balanced diet will make those hours on the road enjoyable instead of painful.”
“Start yesterday. If you can find a dry safe road, get out for a ride. If not, hit the gym and use the cardio equipment. Build up your cardio endurance, push yourself now and your ride will be easier later. During the colder months, I do 30 minutes on the stair master five to six days per week, and I have my bike set up in my trainer at home. Get on your bike as much as you can.”
Remember, the Empire State Ride isn’t just about the physical challenge. It’s about raising funds for cancer research and impacting the lives of those who are fighting this disease. Knowing that you are making a difference will help push you through those long rides and challenging times.
Click here for more training tips and a sample training plan.