Brightwaters resident cycles from NYC to Niagara Falls for cancer research

Mario Fiore first heard about Empire State Ride a few years ago when he read a news article about a different cyclist completing it.

“When I retired, I read an article about a gentleman that had done this ride, and I said to my wife, ‘I am doing this,’” Fiore  shared.

In a full-circle moment, Fiore  shared his story of completing the race himself, before he cycles over 500 miles from New York City to Niagara Falls from July 20 to 27.

The 66-year-old is a father of six and has lived in Brightwaters for 34 years. His passion for cycling truly blossomed when he cycled through Greece as part of a summer college course he took at SUNY Brockport. Fiore  cycled on and off for years until the age of 40, when he took the hobby seriously and became determined to complete at least one ride of significance a year.

Since retiring from his job as an elementary physical education teacher in North Babylon, Fiore is now waiting to embark on his journey to complete the ride for the third time.

During the 300-rider adventure, road warriors tackle more than 500 miles across New York State over seven days as part of a commitment to ending cancer and saving lives. The funds raised by riders support cutting-edge research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park was the first institution in the world to focus exclusively on cancer research. Its mission was expanded later to include patient care, cancer prevention, and education.

Incredibly, for every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park leverages an additional $23 from external grants toward that research.

Riders will cycle for an average of seven hours a day throughout the week. During overnight stays in Somers, Rhinebeck, Albany, Utica, Weedsport, and Spencerport, riders will camp together. According to Fiore, the camping experience creates a great camaraderie among the group.

“Every night of the ride, there is always a speaker from the hospital, and a cancer survivor, and we talk about the ride,” shared Fiore. “I just felt it was so purposeful, and so directed.”

Fiore has completed numerous other races for a variety of charities, such as a marathon to raise funds for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Yet, he continues to embark on the same daunting, strenuous Empire State Ride year after year.

So what motivates him to sign up again each year?

The fact that he is blessed enough to be able to get on the bike—a privilege that some people battling cancer do not have.

“My mom and my sister both passed away from cancer. It is so easy to do something when you can get off your bike, go inside, shower, and you’re done,” shared an emotional Fiore. “It is easier to put in the work when you wake up the next morning and you’re fine.”

To raise money for Roswell Park each year, Fiore has organized fundraising events for the greater Brightwaters community. For his “De-Clutter for Cancer” clothing drive in March, he asked neighbors to donate any old or unwanted clothing. The drive generated over 3,2000 pounds of clothing at .20 cents a pound, funding a donation of $646 to the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. In the two prior years, the similar “Let’s Scrap Cancer” fundraiser event collected scrap metal.

“I am very thankful that mayor John Valdini gave me the opportunity to use the village website to advertise, and he was very supportive. It is so great that the community at large is willing to do whatever it took to help.”

Rather than seeking praise for his own efforts, Fiore is grateful to be able to take part in a ride that is bigger than him, and to extend goodness and opportunities to those around him.

In an anecdote, Fiore reflected on a time he helped organize a fundraiser.

“A woman came up and thanked me, and I said, ‘Thank me? You’re the one doing all the work!’ And she said, ‘I want to thank you for the opportunity to do something good,’” Fiore shared. “That struck me so deeply. To be grateful for the opportunity, and to extend opportunities to people. I think people always want to do good things, so if you can involve people, it’s unbelievable how grateful they are, not only to be able to give to a cause, but to be able to be given the opportunity to do good.”

Empire State Ride is beginning a mentor program this year, and of course, Fiore will be spreading goodness and a helping hand as a mentor to a new rider.

In honor of their 10-year anniversary, Empire State Ride hopes to reach a collective $10 million in donations. To learn more about Empire State Ride and the research team at Roswell Park, visit www.empirestateride.com. If you are looking for an opportunity to do good, consider donating to Fiore’s fundraising page; visit the Empire State Ride website, and search for Mario Fiore in the “Search for a Participant” box.