This Team Cure fundraiser, benefiting Roswell Park Cancer Institute, America’s first cancer center, offers equestrians and horse lovers of all ages a unique way to help raise money for cancer research and patient care. This combined training event tests the talents of horses and their riders in three phases: dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country. All trials take place simultaneously. A basket auction will also take place throughout the day. Saddle Up for Roswell t-shirts will be available for purchase, and there will be pony rides for kids with the opportunity to purchase photos. Riders have solicited donations and will carry the name(s) of those they are riding "in honor" or "in memory of" on their saddle pads. Created by Sue Williams and Deb Maloney in 2006, this event has attracted the attention of horse enthusiasts from across Western New York and the Southern Tier and from as far away as Erie, PA.

WHERE: Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center, 7913 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Gasport, NY 14067

WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

WHY: Proceeds from this event will benefit cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Last year, Saddle Up for Roswell raised $13,000, and this year organizers say that the event is positioned to raise substantially more. “Many people told me that once they started asking people for pledges, they began to realize how many people are affected by cancer,” said Williams. “For me, I’m proud to have helped create this event in honor of my husband, Terry, who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer two years ago.”

WHO: Approximately 100 riders, over 200 additional spectators, as well as Roswell Park doctors (including Tracey L. O’Connor, Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, who will be riding in the event) and members of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board.

About Team Cure: Team Cure was established to help individuals and community organizations wishing to raise funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Team Cure community events raised over $700,000 for Roswell Park’s research and patient care programs. Support is provided to each organizer by community event coordinators from the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation was founded in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization to receive and administer funds supporting scientific and clinical research, state-of-the-art medical care, and patient-related activities at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI).