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Join us at the finish line!

Posted on by Jocelyn McNamara

Join us at the finish line!

A large group of people in matching athletic attire pose for a group photo by a riverside, with trees and distant buildings visible across the water under a partly cloudy sky.

Celebrate Empire State Ride 2026

Saturday, August 1, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Watching more than 250 Empire State Ride cyclists cross the finish line on Old Falls Street is an experience unlike any other. In that moment, road warriors achieve their goal of riding 500+ miles across New York State while raising essential funds for cancer research. You can be a part of the unforgettable moment!

Join us in celebrating this monumental achievement by cheering riders on at the finish line!

There will be a plenty of music, excitement and celebration to honor the road warriors and congratulate them on completing their seven-day adventure. All ESR riders will cross the finish line around 4 p.m.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • DJ Pat Cray
  • 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
A large, cheerful group of people pose together outdoors in summer clothes, some with raised arms and smiles. One person holds a sign that reads, "Niagara Falls but you didn't turn de richey." Trees and a building are in the background.
A smiling woman and young girl hold a poster with a photo of a man and the text "You're the BEST!! My Dad." They are outdoors at an event, surrounded by other people in the background.

Parking:

Discounted parking is available for family and friends in lots P1 – P2 – P3 on the map below. Bring your parking ticket from the machine to the Niagara Falls Convention Center, located at 101 Old Falls Street, for validation.

Map of Niagara Falls Convention Center area showing parking lots (Park Block, Middle Block, East Block), streets, and nearby locations like Sheraton, Quality Hotel & Suites, Casino, and Seneca Gaming Corp.
Cyclists in colorful jerseys ride past cheering spectators at a race event, with one cyclist in front smiling and waving. Banners, trees, and barriers line the street under a sunny sky.
A young woman stands by a white barricade at an outdoor event, holding a sign that reads "Woot! K-Dog & Jenn!" with a heart drawn on it. Other people line up nearby, watching the event on a sunny day.
Two cyclists in helmets and sunglasses hug each other in celebration at an outdoor event, surrounded by a large group of people in similar cycling gear on a sunny day.
Four smiling adults, three in cycling gear with medals, stand outdoors by bikes. A woman in a green shirt holds a sign reading "Way to ride the ESR Tom Joe." Trees and buildings appear in the background.
An older woman in cycling gear smiles and gives a thumbs up at a cycling event, surrounded by other cyclists and people in the background. She wears sunglasses and an orange lanyard.
Five people, including three adults and two children, pose and smile together by a metal railing overlooking a river or waterfall on a sunny day. City buildings and mist are visible in the background.
Three smiling men stand together at a cycling event. One wears a cycling outfit and helmet; the other two wear pink shirts and hats. They hold a sign that reads “WAY TO GO, GO, NED” with a bike leaning nearby.
An older man wearing sunglasses and a headset hugs a woman outdoors. He holds a water bottle, and she has her hand on his back. Other people are nearby, and trees line the sunny street in the background.
Two men stand on a cobblestone street; one is wearing a cycling outfit and holding a bike, the other holds a colorful sign reading "Go Luxiang." Trees and people are visible in the background.

Enjoying Niagara Falls USA!

After cheering on the ESR road warriors, make the most of your trip by enjoying this bucket-list destination.

Niagara Falls USA offers:

“The best part of the whole thing? Seeing that finish line moment."

Caitlin Pietz

RSVP to the finish line celebration

Your $1 donation turns into $20 in cancer research funding

Posted on by Jackie Roberts McDonough
This photo shows Dr. Mukhrejee in the lab, conducting cancer research.

Your $1 donation turns into $20 in cancer research funding

There are many powerful ways to support Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s goal of freeing our world from the fear, pain and loss due to cancer. One of those ways is riding in or donating to the Empire State Ride. That’s because the funds raised by ESR road warriors and donors each year are put to work immediately, fueling cutting-edge cancer research for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Roswell Park has the best and brightest researchers and doctors who have come from around the world to dedicate their life to studying and treating cancer. Donations to Roswell Park through the Empire State Ride enable breakthrough cancer discoveries and bring new treatments from the bench (lab) to the bedside (patients).

We’re proud to say that for every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park is now able to leverage an additional $20 from external grants toward that research. This is thanks to the support of ESR and the hard work of Roswell Park researchers.

How cancer research funding works

Cancer research requires a lot of work, resources and investment. With the great wealth of talent among Roswell Park’s researchers and scientists, there are a lot of promising ideas brewing. Many of these discoveries are only able to move forward with the support of donations. Each year, Roswell Park scientists apply and compete for grants from the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation through the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC process is led by Drs. Mukund Seshadri and Kirsten Moysich, who select an internal objective group of peers to sit on the committee based on expertise and areas of research. Reviewers are asked to thoroughly evaluate and consider the scientific promise of each application. The most promising grant applications are awarded with donor-raised funds to allow scientists to continue their cancer research. This seed money is used for researchers to obtain primary research data and, in turn, apply for larger national grants. The initiatives that receive support often lead to long-term funding from national organizations and new treatments.
This photo shows a researcher in a leukemia lab conducting cancer research.

Impact of fundraising at Roswell Park

Since 2011, the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, with funds from the Empire State Ride and other related fundraisers, has awarded over $16 million to researchers through the Scientific Advisory Committee through 245 grants to 146 scientists.

These grants have led to the publication of 167 papers, the start of at least 20 clinical trials based on homegrown science at Roswell Park and the investment of over $96 million in external grant funding.

That means that for every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park receives an additional $20 in external funding for cancer research.

The dedication and commitment of riders, donors and volunteers is driving work in state-of-the-art labs that fuels discoveries that are changing the future of cancer.

Learn more about your impact

Two scientists in a laboratory examine petri dishes with blue cultures, researching cancer. The workbench is filled with lab equipment and supplies. One person is seated in a lab coat while the other stands, both wearing gloves and deeply focused on their crucial task.

All Things Travel

Posted on by Jackie Roberts McDonough

Empire State Ride is an adventure unlike any other, and getting there and back shouldn’t be an added hill to climb! You may have questions about logistics, so we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know, including added fun after the finish line.

How Do I Travel with My Bike?

You’re not the first person to ask about this! The good news is you have some options if you want to travel with your bike.

  1. Ship your bike: You can ship your bike with Bike Flights. Campus WheelWorks can unpack and rebuild your bicycle, and we will transport it to Wagner College on July 21. Bike shipping is at your own expense.
  2. Take advantage of the bicycle shuttle truck: Another option for you is utilizing the bike truck, which takes shipped and local bikes from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center directly to the start line at Wagner College. More details are available in the ESR travel planner that is sent to you when you register.

What About Getting to and from Niagara Falls?

ESR road warriors come from all over the country. We know transportation can be a factor in your decision to join the adventure! Getting to and from Empire State Ride is your responsibility, but here are some suggestions to make it easier.

  1. Take the charter bus from Buffalo, NY. This bus leaves from Roswell Park on Saturday, July 22 and takes you to Wagner College. You’ll get there at around 3:30 p.m., in time for all the first-night activities! Cost is announced in the ESR travel planner.
    • Riders who are starting their trip from Buffalo are also welcome to drive and park their vehicles in the Roswell Park ramp for the week, free of charge.
    • Alternatively, riders can be dropped off at Wagner College or drive there and park their car for the week, free of charge.
    • ESR also offers a charter bus from Niagara Falls, NY, to Wagner College on July 30. Find further details in the ESR travel planner. 
  2. Prefer to fly? We encourage riders fly to Newark, LaGuardia or JFK airports in New York City, with ground transportation to Wagner College in time for orientation on Saturday, July 22.

If taking the train makes the most sense for you, you also have options! We recommend riders who prefer the train take Amtrack to Penn Station in New York City. Then, take the subway to the Staten Island Ferry. From there, they can ride a taxi or Uber/Lyft to Wagner College in time for orientation at Wagner College.

Extend your stay in Niagara Falls, NY!

Keep the adrenaline pumping and extend your stay on the other side of New York in Niagara Falls USA! Enjoy this bucket-list destination with the friends and family who cheered you on during your 500+ mile journey.

Niagara Falls USA offers:

View or download the Niagara Falls USA Travel Guide, or request a free printed guide delivered to you here.

Added benefits:

You can walk to the Falls from the finish line and from many of the downtown Niagara Falls hotels. You can also walk across the Rainbow Bridge to Canada if you have a passport or approved travel documents.

Pro tip:

If you are organizing a family weekend and want to choose another hotel, it’s a good idea to check your hotel’s proximity to the Falls on a map. Several hotels advertise the Falls, but may be further away and require a car or public transportation.

This is a photo of riders at the finish line in Niagara Falls after traveling from Wagner College in Staten Island.
This is a rider holding up his bike at the finish line in Niagara Falls after traveling 500+ miles for Empire State Ride

Visit the Niagara Falls USA website for travel planning information, or call 1-877 FALLS US to speak with a local expert.

If you’re already registered, check your travel planner for more information!

If you haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for?

Join the adventure

Camping at ESR