AMHERST, N.Y. — Crowds gathered at the University at Buffalo Friday for the Celebration of Hope, kicking off this year’s Ride for Roswell.

"You want to be a part of something,” Andrea Gregory, director of special events for the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, said. “You want to make a difference. You want to be a part of the change, and that's really what the Ride for Roswell is.”

The cycling event raises funds for cancer research and patient care. The ride celebrates those who raised more than $2,500.

"It's so inspiring to see the community come out,” Gregory said. “Cancer hasn't stopped in the middle of the pandemic. People are still being diagnosed every day. Everyone knows a loved one. Everyone knows someone who's been diagnosed.”

John "JC" Conciardo is a longtime fundraiser. It's his 10th year participating, but this year he isn't riding. 

"I’d rather be there watching,” Conciardo said. “Because riding it is pretty cool, but there’s nothing like watching them come in and being part of that excitement.”

This year, Conciardo broke a Ride for Roswell record. He's the first person ever to raise over $1 million cumulatively.

"I’m blessed that 10 years later, I have been the number one fundraiser,” Conciardo said. “I’m not bragging about that, I want to make sure that everyone is clear on that. It’s not me that raised the funds, it’s the community.”

The ride is especially emotional for cancer survivors like Ted Mazierski. This is his sixth year cycling.

"I'm moved to tears at the mission of the Ride for Roswell,” Mazierski said. “And any time I describe the card event at Roswell when we used to start the ride to Canada, I choke up and I cry.”

The online registration for this year's Ride for Roswell has closed, but organizers say you can visit any of the four ride locations to register Saturday morning. For more information, visit the event's website.