Four reasons you should camp at ESR

Posted on April 19, 2023May 20, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Camp life is a core piece of the Empire State Ride adventure. From incredible programming to mouthwatering meals and weeklong bonding, you won’t want to miss this uniquely ESR experience.

“It’s part of the camaraderie that makes the ESR so special,” said Steve Mars, a longtime rider and volunteer.

We know there are many factors to consider when committing to this seven-day journey. That’s why Steve, along with a few other riders and ESR staff, are here to help set your mind at ease about camping.

1. Mission-based programming:

We strongly encourage riders to take part in evening programming. At each campsite, you’ll learn how you’re making a difference through engaging, personal and impactful programming. Some evenings you’ll hear from patients and doctors about the fundraising dollars at work. Other nights you may listen to riders about what the mission means to them – or even share your own story! Each evening is different, and altogether you’ll gain a greater understanding of the ESR mission.

“My first Empire State ride was 2016. I was a mountain bike person, and I said I’m going to do this ride as a way to honor my mother. I thought it was going to be a one-and-done experience, but it was the evening programming that told me that Empire State Ride isn’t just a cycling event. It’s a much bigger idea and bigger concept,” said Steve. “Cycling is the platform, but hearing people’s stories, hearing about the breakthroughs that are being done at Roswell Park – that emotional connection you get throughout the week really comes out in the evening programming.”

2. Meals:

Riding 500+ miles across New York State takes passion, dedication and a commitment to getting the work done. So does feeding the 300+ riders and staff members who set out on the Empire State Ride each July. Enter father-daughter duo Adam and Johanna Morrison of Two Trees Catering.

With the support of Empire State Ride staff and a catering team of seven others, Adam and Johanna make sure road warriors are well-fed and ready to tackle 60 to 100 miles each day.

Riders and staff members alike gather family-style for breakfast and dinner each day, with a focus on clean, whole foods and a few staples that riders need like pasta and protein.

“Nutrition is very, very important to our riders, and the food is great. There’s lots of it,” said Tom Johnston, ESR Operations Manager.

3. Convenience:

ESR is camping made easy! Comfy Campers, along with our volunteers and behind-the-scenes team, work hard to make sure when you arrive at camp after a long day on the road, you’re as comfortable as possible. Tents, air mattresses, camp chairs and clean towels are set up and taken down daily by the staff at Comfy Campers.

Each camp has a rider reception and services hub. Restrooms or portable restrooms and a traveling shower truck are available on site. Riders also have access to a bike repair team, electronics charging stations and so much more!

“After the riders leave at around 7 a.m., we pack up everything. Comfy Campers packs up 300 tents individually. They roll them up, put them in their trailers, drive an hour to the next place and unload them all,” said ESR Production Manager Katie Menke.

“Camping makes it easier because the shuttling back and forth is arduous. You’re doing it twice at every campsite. When you’re camping, you can roll out of bed, get dressed, go have breakfast, wheel your bag over the truck and you’re good to go,” said Steve.

4. Experience

ESR is an experience unlike any other, and that’s largely due to the camping environment and culture. But don’t take our word for it! This is what other road warriors have to say about camping:

“Everyone is so friendly and helpful – the energy! I got to meet some incredible people and talk to them about their why and share my why. There are some people who are retired. There are some professionals. There are some young people, so it’s pretty incredible being exposed to all of that diversity.” – Allison Joseph

“At the end of the day, it’s not about the ride. It’s about the funds raised. And it’s about hanging out at camp when you get there. Trust me, the beer tastes really good after a day of riding.” – Richard Noll

“I did my first Empire State Ride, hopped on the bus and off I went. I’d never camped. I was a Holiday Inn girl, but I learned to camp, and I’ve learned a lot of things about myself that I never thought that I would do or could do.” – Maria Thor

Still have questions?

Let us answer a few! Click here.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Empire State Ride team at empirestateride@roswellpark.org or via phone at (716) 845-3179. Our fundraising experts, Katie and Courtney, can answer any questions you might have.

We can’t wait to take on this adventure with you!

The Route

Register

The Road to Empire State Ride, brought to you by Port X Logistics: Why volunteer at ESR?

Posted on March 2, 2023May 20, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Presented by

You don’t have to ride 500+ miles to enjoy everything that Empire State Ride has to offer. Our volunteers play a key role in the community, bringing the event to life and encouraging our road warriors along the journey.

Some volunteers help on the road for the entire seven-day experience; others offer their assistance for a day or a few hours. Regardless of the role, each volunteer is essential to ESR.

Meet Your Volunteer Coordinator

“I would love for everybody to get to experience what the Empire State Ride truly is at its core. It’s people coming together for one cause,” said Ashley Gracie, senior volunteer coordinator. “To see that play out each day and then to hear these intimate stories that people share as their why is truly phenomenal. It really motivates you to want to do more.”

Among Ashley’s many tasks, she is responsible for building up the volunteer presence at ESR. 2022 was her first year on the ESR team, and it was also the first year of fully utilizing seven-day volunteers. They were integral to the journey from the kickoff all the way through the finish line, helping at rest stops and the campsites.

Ashley and the team also work to get people from each township involved along the way. Of the one-day volunteers, their reasons for getting involved varied. Some were riders in their own communities who wanted to learn more about ESR, others were former ESR road warriors who live in those respective areas and many were a part of organizations interested in giving back to the cause.

“If you have just a couple hours to share, I promise it’s going to be worth your while,” Ashley explained. “It’s something that stays with you, the experience itself. It’s why we have so many riders come back every year. It’s why we have volunteers come back every year.”

Hear From a Weeklong Volunteer

Janice Hetrick of Lancaster is a rider turned volunteer. She took part in ESR as a rider for the first time in 2017. Due to a knee replacement in 2022, still feeling compelled to be a part of the experience, she decided to take on a different role at ESR. Janice returned to the road as a volunteer for all seven days of the adventure. Along with her desire to give back, she brought an energy that kept the riders going.

Janice took on a variety of tasks while volunteering, from manning one of the rest stops to squirting riders with a water gun when they needed a cooldown and assisting at the HUB (Hospitality Updates and Beverages), which is the central spot for rider information. With each job, she made it fun!

“It’s captivating. It’s an uplifting experience,” Janice explained.

The experience was so impactful that Janice plans on returning as a volunteer for #ESR23.

Hear From a One-Day Volunteer

Gail Green-Anderson of New York City and her husband Rick are both one-day volunteers at ESR. Cycling is a part of the fabric of their relationship.

“My husband and I met while cycling. It was 1998, and we both went to the wrong starting point for a Five Borough Bike Club Labor Day Ride, and we spotted each other,” said Gail with a smile. “We eventually got married, and cycling is a really important part of our life.”

For ESR, Gail and Rick greeted riders as they came off the Staten Island Ferry, cheered them on and made sure they were headed in the right direction. It was the perfect way for them to get involved since they know the area well, both from living nearby and from riding their bikes all over New York City.

Gail explained seeing the riders embark on their journey was incredibly rewarding.

“What struck me were the big smiles on their faces,” said Gail. “Sometimes at the beginning of a big athletic event, people look anxious. These people did not look anxious. They knew why they were there. They had a sense of purpose. They had been prepared. They were on their way. I got to play a small role, saying, ‘Go that way!’”

For people who live in municipalities along the #ESR23 route who are considering signing up to volunteer, Gail says – “Just do it!”

She and her husband plan to help again this summer, and as she reflects on previous years, she says her volunteer experience has been worthwhile.

With tears in her eyes Gail explained, “For people who have sustained tremendous loss of loved ones to look that happy and that energetic doing something that addresses that loss – that’s pretty remarkable.”

An opportunity for you

Whether you have an hour, a day or a week – you can make a difference on Empire State Ride.

There are dozens of volunteer opportunities and multiple shifts available. Tasks range from camp setup, to greeting riders, cheering participants on at the finish line and more!

See the full list of opportunities here.

By giving your time as a volunteer, you’re fueling the ESR mission to end cancer.

“That’s why I fight. That’s why I put so much passion and dedication into making the best experience possible so we can get more and more people involved,” said Ashley.

Questions about volunteering? Contact Ashley Gracie at Ashley.Gracie@RoswellPark.org.

Sign up to volunteer

The Road to ESR: Meet the Operations Team

The Official 2023 Empire State Ride Route

Posted on February 16, 2023May 31, 2023 by j.schifferle

The official ESR 2023 route is here!

Let’s take a deep dive into what our road warriors can expect as they embark on the ride of a lifetime this summer.

Check out the map of this amazing weeklong adventure*

*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

Click each day to learn more!

Orientation

Wagner College, where orientation is hosted.

Orientation Day

Check-in begins at Wagner College on Staten Island. Feel free to arrive early and explore the city before orientation starts at 5 p.m.

CAMP: Wagner College
1 Campus Rd, Staten Island, NY 10301

Day 1: Staten Island to Somers

Day 1: Staten Island to Somers

Miles: 63.3 miles
Elevation: 1,793 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38991310
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

Here’s what’s in store for the first day of #ESR23

Take a group photo on the steps of Wagner College.
Ride on the Staten Island Ferry with views of New York City, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governor’s Island and Battery Park.
Cruise along the west side Greenway bike paths, past The World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, Aircraft Carrier Intrepid Museum, George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River.
Take city streets and the South County bike trail through Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx into Yonkers and Westchester County. Follow the east bank of the Hudson River, Day 1 ends at camp in Somers.

CAMP:
Somers Senior High School
Westchester County
120 Primrose St, Lincolndale, NY 10540

Day 2: Somers to Rhinebeck

Riders on the Walkway over the Hudson

Day 2: Somers to Rhinebeck

Miles: 79 miles
Elevation: 2,628 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38725829
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to you in July.

Here’s what’s in store for day two of #ESR23:

Head northeast through the towns of Westchester and Dutchess counties, past Vassar College.
Take an optional detour to the Walkway Over the Hudson for a photo opportunity.
Trek past the FDR Presidential Library, Vanderbilt Museum and Staatsburg State Historic Site
Camp at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, home of the largest six-day agricultural fair in New York State.

CAMP:
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Dutchess County
6636 U.S. 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Day 3: Rhinebeck to Albany

Day 3: Rhinebeck to Albany

Miles: 78 miles
Elevation: 2,938 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40374561
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

Here’s what’s in store for day three of #ESR23:

Continue along the Hudson River to the Erie Canal.
Rest at the Discover Albany Visitor Center in Albany.
Embark on the final nine miles to camp at the Shaker Heritage Site, where the Shaker religion was first founded in the United States.

CAMP:
Shaker Heritage Society
Albany County
25 Meeting House Rd, Albany, NY 12211

Day 4: Albany to Utica

Day 4: Albany to Utica

Miles: 100 miles
Elevation: 2,175 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38153702
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

It’s century day! Here’s what’s in store on day four as our road warriors tackle 100 miles for #ESR23:

Ride along the Mohawk River and the historic Erie Canal through small towns and villages until you make it to Utica, New York.
Stop at the official halfway point of the ESR adventure. Stage a photoshoot with picture frames and fun celebratory props!

Arrive at camp in Utica and celebrate your accomplishment during the evening programming.

CAMP:
Donovan Middle School
Oneida County
1701 Noyes St, Utica, NY 13502

Day 5: Utica to Weedsport

Day 5: Utica to Weedsport

Miles: 84.1 miles
Elevation: 2,034 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40374481
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

Here’s what’s in store for day five of #ESR23:

Experience breakfast at the famous Flo’s Diner, home of the Ten Cent Coffee.
Pass through the picturesque surroundings of Oneida Lake.
Arrive at camp at Weedsport Speedway, home of the dirt racetrack, for a party with live music and good spirit.

CAMP:
Weedsport Speedway
Ontario County
1 Speedway Drive #415, Weedsport, NY 13166

Day 6: Weedsport to Spencerport

Day 6: Weedsport to Spencerport (brought to you by Batavia Downs)
Batavia Downs logo
Miles: 82.7 miles
Elevation: +1,988 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40441185
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

Almost to the finish line! Here’s what’s in store for the penultimate day of #ESR23:

Continue west along the Erie Canal through Lyons, Palmyra, Fairport and Pittsford.
Take a quick stop at Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery for an afternoon ice cream.
Continue your ride until you arrive at camp at the American Legion Post in Spencerport.

CAMP:
Ferris Goodrich American Legion Post 330
Monroe County
691 Trimmer Road, Spencerport, NY 14559

DAY 7: Spencerport to Niagara Falls

DAY 7: Spencerport to Niagara Falls (brought to you by Destination Niagara USA)

Destination Niagara logo

Miles: 75.4 miles
Elevation: +1,724 feet
GPS*: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38070478
*Note: Route files are subject to change before departure. Final files will be emailed to riders in July.

The final leg of #ESR23! Here’s what’s in store during the final stretch:

Continue west through Brockport, Albion and Medina.
Break for lunch in Lockport and take an optional stop at Lake Effect Ice Cream.
Ride through the scenic countryside as you take in wine country.
Arrive at DeVeaux Woods State Park and gather for a police-escorted ride to the finish line celebration down Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls.
Enjoy the celebration and a short post-ride program! Walk to the falls for a group photo and your signature victory pose.

Finish line:

Old Falls Street USA
101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Throughout the week, there will be a bus available to help road warriors struggling to complete the mileage. Riders can take it at the start of the day as a booster bus to the second rest stop or take the sag bus back to camp. The Empire State Ride is an experience for any rider who is prepared to take on the adventure of a lifetime to end cancer.

Read more about training for the Empire State Ride.

Training for ESR.

Day 1: 63+ miles

Day 2: 79 miles

Day 3: 78 miles

Day 4: 100 miles

Day 5: 84 miles

Day 6: 83 miles

Day 7: 75 miles

The Road to Empire State Ride, brought to you by Port X Logistics: Behind the Scenes

Posted on January 23, 2023May 20, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Presented by

Meet the Team

As you’re getting ready for your 500+ mile trek across New York State, so is our Empire State Ride operations team.

Every facet of Empire State Ride is mapped out months in advance, though ever-changing details require operations to pivot as the journey demands. The team thinks of all the elements, big and small, so that when you’re on the road, you can focus on the ride rather than the logistics.

Meet Megan, Ashley, Katie and Tom — the operations crew that works year-round to make this adventure possible.

“It’s like a big puzzle, like math. You’ve got to go in and figure out solutions to the problems,” said Senior Special Events Operations Coordinator Megan Maslach.

And to make sure the puzzle that is ESR is put together by July, it takes planning — a lot of planning.

“It’s a yearlong process. Even as we’re at a camp, I’m already talking to the venue about next year,” said Production Manager Katie Menke.

Once the team returns home to Buffalo, weekly meetings pick back up in full force to prepare for the upcoming ride. Still, when the weeklong event actually arrives, flexibility is key.

“Our team is really good at working on the fly and troubleshooting. We do an incredible amount of planning, but so many things happen when we’re out there, and our team is just so good at improvising,” said Katie.

Operations Manager Tom Johnston says the biggest obstacle is keeping an eye on all the moving parts.

He added, “Every site is different, and every site has its own flavor and challenges.”

Camp Life

In addition to the route itself, camp life is a key part of the ESR experience. Each camp has a rider reception and services hub, tenting area, dining and program tent.

Among her various duties, Katie handles campsite logistics. This includes “everything that goes into rolling into an empty field and building a small village for us for that day,” Katie said. She emphasized that it’s a team effort, with collaboration from members of the ops team, vendors, caterers and more.

While the existing infrastructure varies from one site to the next, riders will always have access to portable restrooms and a traveling shower truck. Booking those amenities is one of Megan’s many tasks.

“I enjoy figuring out what we need to make a space habitable for 350 people,” said Megan. “My favorite part is creating a one-day home for people at each spot.”

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the camp life at ESR is that each site is set up and taken down daily as the group rides across the state.

“After the riders leave at around 7:00 a.m., we pack up everything. The tent company packs up 300 tents individually. They roll them up, put them in their trailers, drive an hour to the next place and unload them all,” said Katie. “They even use a leaf blower to dry them out. They inflate air mattresses, they put a camping chair next to each tent and, somehow, they’re ready to go by 2 p.m. or so when the riders arrive after a day on the road.”

Adjusting to Scale

The first ESR took place back in 2014 when founder Terry Bourgeois rode solo from New York City to Niagara Falls on a pursuit to raise critical funds for cancer research at Roswell Park. Over the last nine years, his passion project has inspired hundreds of people to get involved.

Today, there are more than 200 people who join ESR on the road each year — and counting!

“As the event has grown, we’re always thinking about adjusting to scale so that we don’t lose that family-feel, but we also are able to deal with the larger numbers and be more efficient,” Tom explained.

Despite the size of ESR, riders, staff and volunteers alike often use the word “family” to describe the experience. Maintaining the special sense of community that is unique to this ride is essential. “It’s a big production, so much planning goes into it. There are lots of nuts and bolts and moving parts, but somewhere in there is that personal connection,” said Tom.

In recent years, the team has managed all operations in house for ESR. While there’s always room for growth, they say the process has been incredibly fulfilling and successful — creating a kind of synergy with everyone involved.

“I think what’s unique to our event is that it’s not just a bike tour. It’s very much about the cause and about fundraising and about everybody’s stories,” Katie added, “And our team is able to bring those concepts together for our week-long ride.”

Join the ESR Community

Of course, everyone plays an important role in Empire State Ride, including you!

Whether you want to get involved on the frontlines of the adventure as a rider or behind the scenes as a volunteer, members of the ops team say it’s a journey you truly have to experience to understand.

“It doesn’t take seven days to cross New York State. It takes seven hours, but you stretch it out and you see things. You see small towns. You see families who come out to help us. You connect with the community,” said Tom.

And after a year of planning, pivoting and preparing for this one-week-event, the result is an unforgettable journey, with memories to last a lifetime.

Get Inspired

Register

Get the Empire State Ride Fundraising App

Posted on November 30, 2022May 20, 2023 by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Enhance your fundraising with the ESR MyHub App.

Riding 500+ miles across New York State makes you a road warrior; raising critical funds for cancer research makes you a champion.

Let the ESR MyHUB app supercharge your fundraising efforts and get you ready for your Empire State Ride adventure.

Here are some of the great things you can do with the app!

Personalize your fundraiser and track your fundraising progress
Accept in-person check donations with state-of-the-art scanning technology and bank-grade security feature
Send emails or SMS messages to your contacts asking for support and donations

Connect the app to your activity tracker. Earn badges and compete against fellow road warriors in fitness and fundraising challenges
Integrate with your ESR fundraising dashboard and Facebook fundraiser
Share your page on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
And much more!

How to get started.

The ESR MyHUB app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play. Search for “ESR MyHUB” wherever you download apps.

Use the User Name and Password that you set up to log into your Fundraising Dashboard. After your first login, you can also use facial recognition to get into your account.

If you have any questions about the fundraising app, please contact us!

Email: EmpireStateRide@RoswellPark.org Phone: 716-845-3179

And for more fundraising tools, visit our fundraising page!

Charlie Livermore: Coach, Cycling Enthusiast, Cancer Survivor

Posted on November 28, 2022May 20, 2023 by j.schifferle

Charlie Livermore's ESR Journey

The Empire State Ride is lucky to have the support of professional cycling coach Charlie Livermore as an advisor and friend. Charlie is not only a coach at Carmichael Training Systems, but also serves as a training consultant on our adventure across New York State. He offers his expertise and tips to all ESR riders and joins us on the road each July to ride 500+ miles.

All blogs by Charlie

With more than 30 years of experience as a professional cycling coach, Charlie Livermore has logged thousands of miles and helped countless cyclists reach their goals. He works as a pro-level contract coach at Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) and has managed professional cycling teams in tours around the world. The BMC Racing Team, cofounded by Charlie, went on to win the Tour de France in 2011.

Charlie’s passion for cycling started decades ago when he bought a bike and subsequently met the president of the Florida Cycling Federation. The president invited Charlie to an upcoming race. Charlie accepted, conquered the race and never looked back.

“Cycling has been my life. I’m a prisoner of passion and discipline. It’s been a great life. I still coach, I’m still riding, and I’m still helping people. I love it. I’ll never stop doing it,” Charlie says.

On Empire State Ride.

Charlie’s involvement with Empire State Ride (ESR) can best be described as a perfect accident. A client needed to get in peak shape for a European cycling tour and pitched ESR as a training event to log his miles. Charlie agreed and joined him on the road in July 2015.

The duo planned to stay at hotels and eat at local restaurants to make it easier to adhere to their prescribed nutrition plan. Then they discovered the catering at camp and started to meet the ESR community. As Charlie got to know the other riders, he saw an opportunity to use his knowledge and become more involved.

He started giving fireside talks each night after dinner. During those chats, he shared tips and tricks for navigating the road and answered questions from new and experienced riders alike. His talks were so well-received that he was asked to come back the next year as a coach. He has returned every year since to set our road warriors up for success.

“I’ve done all kinds of amazing one-week and two-week long vacations in my life and the one that I keep talking about the whole year is the Empire State Ride,” Charlie says. “It’s a lifetime of stories all packed up into one week.”

“It's a lifetime of stories all packed up into one week.”

Charlie Livermore

Charlie’s reasons for coming back.

Charlie has joined Empire State Ride on the road for more than seven years now. For him, the event goes beyond his love for the sport of cycling. He connects to the ESR mission on a much deeper level.

“I never talk about it, but I’m also a cancer survivor. I resonate with what is going on, and I understand the studies and the clinical trials, because I went on a clinical trial that really made my outcome better. I’m still alive.”

Charlie was preparing for a cycling event in Europe when his cancer journey began. Between cycling regularly, running a cycling center and traveling to and from events, he maintained a healthy lifestyle and felt great. That’s what made what happened next even more surprising.

During a routine dental cleaning, Charlie’s dentist discovered a lump in his throat that wasn’t supposed to be there. He referred Charlie to a specialist to have it biopsied. When Charlie did, the results confirmed the worst-case scenario: throat cancer. He never smoked and realized quickly that a cancer diagnosis can happen to anyone.

Through a reference from a friend at Stanford University, Charlie got into a promising clinical trial for his specific type of cancer that involved less radiation. He signed up and began treatment, anxious for the upcoming cycling event in Europe. Luckily, Charlie took to treatment well and was able to get back to cycling sooner than later.

“I survived. But it would’ve been a completely different experience if I had gone through those three extra weeks of radiation that the normal protocol called for,” Charlie says. “When they talk about clinical trials at ESR, I understand the benefits and how much they can change the outcome. I have respect and passion for the research side of things, too.”

A full-circle journey for Charlie, it’s no coincidence that he found ESR and the amazing community of road warriors he works with. He says his experience with cancer and love for cycling have made him even more grateful for the journey and connections he’s made with the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

“Empire State Ride is unique. What this organization is doing, and the passion around it, has been one of my biggest fulfillments in cycling. I look forward to the event every year.”

Charlie Livermore

Terry’s Legacy: The Start of Empire State Ride

Posted on November 9, 2022May 20, 2023 by j.schifferle

Committing to the Cancer Cause.

For 12 years, Terry Bourgeois served in the military and devoted himself to his country. When his military career ended, he started a career in corporate America but he also found himself searching for an additional purpose and direction. That search and drive to make a difference led him to sign up for Ride for Roswell, where he quickly realized the realities of cancer. Cancer was, and continues to be, a leading cause of death worldwide.

“I had just spent 12 and a half years of my life sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I was willing to give up my life for that. But what are we doing about cancer? This enemy is huge. It has no rules and really doesn’t care. This voice in my mind was telling me I had to be part of this fight.”

So, Terry did research on Roswell Park to answer one question: Is Roswell Park really a place that’s doing something about cancer? He dove in and learned about genetic testing and clinical trials. He read patient stories and met researchers and discovered that Roswell was the first dedicated cancer center focused on cancer research. He also learned how every dollar raised gets amplified by $13*** through federal, pharmaceutical and other outside support. And he was sold.

He raised his hand and committed to the fight. That was in 1999.

Today, Terry sits on the Roswell Park Alliance Community Board as chairman and the driving force behind Empire State Ride. He’s been a fierce supporter of the fight to end cancer and founded the 500+ mile adventure across New York State.

*** For years, we’ve told you that your $1 donation can turn into $13 in external funding for cancer research. Now, we’re proud to announce that your $1 donation is now creating $23 in funding. This is thanks to your incredible support and the hard work Roswell Park researchers put in every day to advance new discoveries. Read more about this change.

The Road to the First Empire State Ride.

The first Empire State Ride in 2014 looked a little different than it does today. An idea came to Terry during a brainstorming session about ways to bring in new revenue for cancer research. What if we created an event with two major destinations that would bring in people around the world? What if that event included the Statue of Liberty on one end and Niagara Falls on the other as entry points and sources of hope for participants traveling to the United States? What if the event covered every major city in New York State, through rural landscapes and bustling cities, and ended near the home of America’s first dedicated cancer center?

That thought stayed with Terry. The more he tossed it over, the more he knew he had to see the idea through. So, he set out to travel across the state on a solo ride that would echo for years to come.

“It comes back to the commitment I made in 1999 that I was going to do whatever I could to help this cause,” Terry says.

He laid the groundwork for his trip by charting out the route and planning stays at local campgrounds. His mother and her friend would fly from North Dakota and meet him in New York City. They could enjoy New York during the day and meet Terry each night at camp. From there, he tuned up his bike, packed his bags and prepared to set off.

But the best laid plans rarely go off without a hitch, and Terry learned that firsthand.

It started with a call the night before he was scheduled to leave. His mother’s friend just received the news that her father had a tumor on his spine. There was no way she could leave him for a week, nor would Terry want her to. Instead, the new development would fuel Terry’s desire to raise even more money for cancer research. But first, he needed to find someone to step in. He dialed his sister on a whim, knowing that he was asking for a lot. She needed time to think it through.

The next morning, Terry set off without much of a plan. “I think a reasonable person probably would’ve stopped, but I couldn’t,” he says.

As he was pulling out of his driveway, his sister called him. “Good news,” she told him. She would travel from North Dakota to New York City to join Terry on the journey.

On the road.

The first morning started with a broken toe. The pain radiated through his foot. He vowed to push through and embark on his journey regardless. Weeks later, he would learn that his big toe had broken into two.

Early in the day, his ride went from bad to worse as his GPS, loaded with route, failed to work in New York City. The route he planned to the first campsite was not accessible. He left New York City four hours later than planned on an alternate route in the direction of the campsite.

That first night hit Terry hard. He set up at a campground about 50 miles outside New York City. His toe throbbed, his body ached, and he began to question his journey and his sanity.

Then something serendipitous happened.

He met a fellow camper and told her about his journey. She introduced him to her sister who had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Her sister’s husband had been diagnosed with prostate cancer four months before that. The more they talked and shared stories, the more Terry knew he had to keep going. The family donated to Terry’s ride to support Roswell Park and Terry vowed to do whatever it took to finish his journey.

“The next morning, I hung my jersey over [the sister’s] chair at the campfire, and I signed it ‘best of luck.’ That was a pivotal moment where the negative feelings I had about myself and the voices that told me to quit just went away. A new voice said, ‘Terry, suck it up. This has nothing to do with you, and it has everything to do with her.’”

Despite all the obstacles and odds, Terry made it to the finish line. Why? Because life doesn’t exist without risks, he says, and raising money for cancer research is well worth any trials that come with a 500+ mile journey. Today, Terry’s greatest joy comes from seeing the change Empire State Ride has made in people’s lives.

“To be part of writing the pages in what will be a history book about how cancer used to be is the most fulfilling thing that I can think of for a legacy. When I get to the end of my road and think about what we've been part of, I'm going to smile."

Terry Bourgeois

Join Terry at this year’s Empire State Ride.

Join us at the finish line!

Posted on July 18, 2022May 20, 2023 by j.schifferle

Our ESR road warriors have committed to a 500+ mile journey across the state. Over seven days, they’ll tackle long distances, hills and exhaustion to honor everyone affected by cancer. Help us celebrate their accomplishment by cheering them on at the finish line! All enthusiasts welcome.

Saturday, July 30 @ 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

There will be food trucks, music and programming to honor our road warriors and congratulate them on completing their adventure. Our road warriors will cross the finish line around 4 p.m.

Here's what you can expect

Food trucks
42 North Brewing Tap Trekker
Live music
Programming on our riders’ impact
Opportunity to purchase ESR gear
Awesome signs and plenty of cheering
Smiles as hundreds of road warriors embrace that finish line feeling

What to Bring

Enthusiasm
Inspiration and willingness to create a sign
Spending money and appropriate gear for the weather

Parking

Discounted parking will be available for your family and friends in parking areas P1, P2 and P3 (Rainbow ramp) on the map below. Visitors should bring their parking ticket to the ESR finish line for a validation stamp that will earn them discounted parking when they leave. Parking is also available throughout the city at drivers’ own expense.

Homestretch! How to get those last-minute donations.

Posted on July 7, 2022May 20, 2023 by j.schifferle

Your fundraising efforts for Empire State Ride fuel critical research that directly impacts the lives of cancer patients at Roswell Park. As we enter the final weeks before our weeklong challenge, now’s the time to rev up donations to reach your goal in time for the big day. Whether you’ve already passed your goal or you’re almost there, we have you covered with fundraising tips to help you go the distance.

Check out these words of advice from your fellow road warriors.

leT YOUR DONORS KNOW THEIR IMPACT IS huge.

“From a fundraising standpoint, it’s really important for riders to stress that every dollar you raise gets multiplied by 13***. When you can show that financial impact, it is huge. People buy $10 worth of raffle tickets, for example, and it becomes $130 in grant research dollars. When you start putting it like that, it’s really easy for someone to give that $10. If you give me a hundred dollars, now it becomes $1,300 in grant research money. The power of that is amazing.”

– Road warrior Shelley Unocic.

*** For years, we’ve told you that your $1 donation can turn into $13 in external funding for cancer research. Now, we’re proud to announce that your $1 donation is now creating $23 in funding. This is thanks to your incredible support and the hard work Roswell Park researchers put in every day to advance new discoveries.
Read more about this change.

🚲 Team together.

“Everyone on our team went out and got donations. We purchased some things on our own and put baskets together. One hundred percent of those proceeds are going back to our team goal.”

– Road warrior Shelley Unocic.

🚲 Give people something in return.

“Try to do things that people can actually get something else out of, as well. Instead of just asking them to hand over a donation, ask them to put money toward a dinner or raffle.”

– Road warrior Erica Pompey

🚲 Don’t be afraid to ask.

“My father always said, ‘If you don’t ask, all they can do is say no.’ Right now, what I do for fundraising for team GBY9 is mail out 400 letters. Anybody that I know gets a letter —my doctor, my lawyer, the cleaners, whoever. Anybody I know will receive a letter. And that’s how I do my fundraising.”

– Road warrior Maria Thor

🚲 Remind people what it’s all about.

“I hit and bring to heart what it is really about. It isn’t really about the cycling, which is the fun part, but it’s about how we support the Roswell Park community and help with the fundraising for the clinical trial processes.”

— Road warrior Richard Noll

Use Your Contacts

“I use a very simple process. What I do is this: Every night at this time of the year, as I’m watching TV, I open my fundraising app and go into my phonebook, and I send personalized text messages with the link. Hey, Steve, it’s Rich. Hope all is well. As you know, this is my fifth year riding for Roswell. I would love your support again. I go through one letter of the alphabet every night. Then I go through my emails. Then I go back, and I start making personal phone calls.”

— Road warrior Richard Noll

However you choose to fundraise, keep the momentum going!

Camping at ESR: What you need to know

Posted on July 1, 2022May 20, 2023 by j.schifferle

Empire State Ride is just around the corner, and riders are in for the journey of a lifetime. Not only are we advancing cancer research from the seat of our bikes, but we’re also taking on a unique cycling challenge. If you’re anything like Maria Thor, you’re going to learn a lot during your week on the road.

If you’re a first-time road warrior or thinking about becoming one next year, you may be wondering what to expect at camp. After a long day of riding, there’s no better feeling than freshening up and getting settled in for the night. By familiarizing yourself with the schedule and resources, you can make the most out of your camping experience. Here’s a quick snapshot of what you can expect.

🚲Your experience Includes:

• No-hassle tent camping, including tent, chair, air mattress, clean towels and daily delivery of your luggage
• Shower truck, restrooms, , bike truck and mechanics support
• A HUB with rider information, beverages, snacks, first aid supplies, sunscreen, and cue sheets,.
• Wellness support, including first aid and physical therapists as well as optional for-cost massages
• Catered breakfast and dinner with consideration for dietary restrictions
• Charging stations for devices
• Nightly mission-based programming

🚲Schedule

Daily routes close at 3 p.m. each day. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with nightly programming at 6:15 p.m. that unites everyone around our shared mission to end cancer. Then, you have free time until 10 p.m. when quiet hours begin. You can use that time to enjoy our evening reception, chat with other riders, or just unwind while reflecting on the day.

🚲 Location

Day 1 (July 23): Wagner College, Staten Island
Day 2 (July 24): Somers High School, Somers
Day 3 (July 25): Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck
Day 4 (July 26): Shaker Heritage Society, Albany
Day 5 (July 27): Donovan Middle School, Utica
Day 6 (July 28): Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport
Day 7 (July 29): Ferris Goodrich American Legion, Spencerport

Here’s one last note from veteran rider, Richard Noll.

“At the end of the day, it's not about the ride. It's about the funds raised. And it's about hanging out at camp when you get there. Trust me, the beer tastes really good after a day of riding.”

Richard Noll

Thinking about tackling this summer adventure in 2023? Follow along on social and join our mailing list!

Recent Stories

Search Empire State Ride

1. Mission-based programming:

2. Meals:

3. Convenience:

4. Experience

Still have questions?

Let us answer a few! Click here.

Presented by

Meet Your Volunteer Coordinator

Hear From a Weeklong Volunteer

Hear From a One-Day Volunteer

An opportunity for you

The official ESR 2023 route is here!

Check out the map of this amazing weeklong adventure*

Day 1: 63+ miles

Day 2: 79 miles

Day 3: 78 miles

Day 4: 100 miles

Day 5: 84 miles

Day 6: 83 miles

Day 7: 75 miles

Presented by

Meet the Team

Camp Life

Adjusting to Scale

Join the ESR Community

Enhance your fundraising with the ESR MyHub App.

Riding 500+ miles across New York State makes you a road warrior; raising critical funds for cancer research makes you a champion.

Here are some of the great things you can do with the app!

How to get started.

Charlie Livermore's ESR Journey

On Empire State Ride.

Charlie’s reasons for coming back.

Committing to the Cancer Cause.

The Road to the First Empire State Ride.

On the road.

Then something serendipitous happened.

Join Terry at this year’s Empire State Ride.

Saturday, July 30 @ 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Here's what you can expect

What to Bring

Parking

leT YOUR DONORS KNOW THEIR IMPACT IS huge.

🚲 Team together.

🚲 Give people something in return.

🚲 Don’t be afraid to ask.

🚲 Remind people what it’s all about.

Use Your Contacts

🚲Your experience Includes:

🚲Schedule

🚲 Location

Connect with us!

Quick links.

Contact info.

Proceeds directly benefit