To say Jay and Tammy Warren live life to the fullest is an understatement. They don’t just savor every moment along the way, they create big, life-changing adventures and see them through. Their warm energy and sense of humor have helped them overcome countless challenges, including on their most recent adventure: a 2,800-mile bike ride across the United States to raise funds for cancer research.
The couple has taken on the Empire State Ride (ESR) 500+ Mile Hometown Challenge — a 500-mile commitment to ending cancer — to a whole new level. Jay has been riding daily while his wife, Tammy, manages SAG support every pedal of the journey. The pair started their ride in Portland, Oregon, and will arrive at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, on July 9. Their goal is to raise $10,000 for cancer research.
A few weeks after their arrival, they will once again join the weeklong adventure from Staten Island to New York City, working route and logistics support, as they have for many years. Being on the road and seeing riders’ passion for the mission to end cancer is what inspired Jay and Tammy to undertake this challenge in the first place.
“We have been profoundly touched by the stories of survival and bravery from our ESR participants, but we’ve also been heartbroken by the loss of our own friends and family to this terrible disease,” they wrote on their fundraising page.
Their “Why” for Riding to End Cancer
In their professional lives, Jay and Tammy travel for work; during their down time, they travel for pleasure, making quick friends and unforgettable memories. It was during one of their off-hours explorations, a cruise from Tokyo to Sydney, that they met their friend Beryl. They stayed in touch long after their initial adventure, sharing a mutual love of exploration.
“Beryl was a spit-fire of a woman — four foot eight and amazingly fun. We always had a blast together, and she was very special,” Jay said.
Right before the 2024 Empire State Ride, Beryl passed away following her third recurrence of cancer. That loss solidified Jay and Tammy’s decision to do something more in the mission to end this terrible disease.
This commitment only deepened when Jay received a simple, two-word text on the road that read, “She’s gone.” A close family member also lost their battle to cancer. Jay and Tammy were in North Dakota, and they carried the weight of that news for the rest of the ride.
How Their Ride Inspired Others Along the Way
Early on in their 2,800-mile journey, Jay and Tammy decided to write the words “Empire State Ride to End Cancer” with the website URL in marker on their car. It was a simple choice that resulted in countless conversations and elevated their overall experience.
“That little decision to write something on our car changed so much. People would read it and stop to ask us about the ride. Some people donated because of it, and others shared their cancer connection with us,” Tammy said.
Tammy paused for a moment in reflection, then went on to describe a moment on their ride that stayed with her. While standing by the car one morning, they found an older man studying the words they’d written. The man immediately wanted to donate to the cause and handed over a small donation. He went on to reveal that his wife had stage IV colorectal cancer, a diagnosis that came after she originally beat breast cancer. His eyes were wide and teary.
“Jay didn’t see this,” Tammy said. “But when he got on his bike and rode off, the man stayed there and watched as Jay got smaller and smaller. There was so much hope in the man’s eyes.”
“That’s why we do this,” Jay said. “That’s why we ride.”
Their Hometown Challenge Route
Their profound commitment to the mission to end cancer has seen Tammy and Jay through many challenges on their journey. The road to starting this ride was laden with injuries and health concerns that delayed their start date. Tammy originally intended to ride with Jay, but when her hands started getting numb — a result of an old injury — they decided to backtrack to Portland to find and buy a car that would become their SAG vehicle.
They finally restarted their journey on May 17 with a commitment for Jay to ride an average of 52 miles a day for 53 days straight. Their route has taken them through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, on a four-hour ferry ride over Lake Michigan, along the St. Clair River, and finally — along the northern edge of Lake Erie. Their final day will take them across the Peace Bridge and into Kaminski Park at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Some days, Jay has ridden more. Some days, he has ridden less. But every day is different. His first nine days saw unrelenting rainstorms. Partway through, he faced intense headwinds and steep climbs. He completed a century ride (plus 13 bonus miles), and scaled back mileage toward the end of the route. Through it all, he’s only taken one day off.
The Memories and the Mission
The memories made along the way have been some of the best of the couple’s life together. There were bear sightings in a town in Wisconsin where “everything had bear in the name.” There was snow atop a steep hill in Montana after Jay rode up a hill with an 8% grade (in his lowest gear for nearly an hour). There were new friends and lots of laughs.
Of the adventure, though, Jay and Tammy say that talking about the mission is what stands out most. Like so many, they dream of a world with better outcomes for everyone facing a cancer diagnosis.
“We count every day, mile, and inch as we ride, knowing that every revolution of our pedals contributes to our final goal just as every dollar donated counts toward finally conquering cancer,” they wrote.
