Dear Ride for Roswell Donor’s,
The 5th Annual Gary O’Brien’s Pub Ride for Roswell adventure was our most successful to date….at nearly $23,000, we were again in the Top 20 teams event wide!
This event means so much to our team members, as half of the funds raised will again go into the James L. Desiderio Endowment fund for esophageal cancer research. The other half of the funds will go directly to Dr. Elizabeth Repasky, who heads up the research funded by the endowment. Jim Desiderio was beloved by so many, and every year that we participate in this event, we are reminded of his kindness, generosity and philanthropic nature…it truly is a wonderful way to honor his memory.
The ride this year was HOT with the daytime high reaching 86! We rode 30 miles with Carmella and Gianna in tow behind Gary’s bike. After finishing the 30-mile route, we geared up again, this time for the 3 mile Family Fun Ride! Gianna rode “Co-Pilot” on the back of her mother’s bike, and Carmella, on her training wheels, kept a 9mph pace, and crossed that finish line with a smile from ear to ear. She told everyone who would listen how she rode her bike for her Grandpa Jim and “didn’t even stop at any of the rest stops!” How proud we were of her and her efforts, and we were so touched that she finally understands who we are and why we ride. The only thing that tarnished the day’s events was the absence of the O’Brien Family, who have been key over the years in helping us reach our fundraising goals. Unfortunately, Patrick lost his mother to Pancreatic Cancer the Friday night before the ride. This will be even more of a driving force to raise “a dollar more” moving forward to next year.
Every year, after we cross that finish line, we look back on the year and all of the fundraising efforts that took place, and we try to come up other ways to make next year even bigger. One thing is for sure, we wouldn’t have broken last year’s record without your support and for that, we are deeply thankful! Your generous support is going toward a marvelous cause! I will close with a quote taken from thousands of t-shirts I saw at the Ride. “CANCER SUCKS!”
With much love and appreciation,
Gina, Gary, Carmella and Gianna
Gary O'Brien's Pub 