For the past eight years, Scott Bloomgren has not only been fighting cancer, but has also raised money for the fight against the disease by leading a team in the annual Ride for Roswell fundraiser in Buffalo, N.Y.
Bloomgren, 61, his wife Brenda, family and friends will once again raise funds for the 2019 Ride for Roswell event through the “Scott & His Cancer Crusaders” team.
To help them reach their goal of raising $10,000, the team will conduct a spaghetti dinner benefit from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Bradford Fraternal Order of Eagles club at 49 E. Main St.
The event, which includes a dinner, salad and bread, costs $8 for adults, $5 for children and is free for children under 3. The fundraiser will include Chinese auction baskets and 50/50 basket raffles.
Brenda Bloomgren said her husband, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in January of 2011, receives treatment at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Formerly employed by the Danzer Lumber North America company in Bradford, he left his employment because of his illness. When able, he volunteers to drive the Disabled Veterans Van. The couple has four adult children, eight grandchildren and one grandchild on the way.
Brenda Bloomgren, who is also employed by Danzer, said her husband recently had kidney and open heart surgery.
“He had cancer on his adrenal gland and (the cancer) reached into his heart,” Brenda Bloomgren explained. “He had been going since 2011 every three weeks for experimental IV therapy. It had stopped working almost a year ago and they put him on two other experiments and that did not work.”
Despite this, he continues to fight the disease with treatments at Roswell.
Brenda Bloomgren said their team participated for the first time in Ride for Roswell last year and did well. Comprising fewer people, the team didn’t raise as much as they hope to raise this year.
“Some of our children and grandchildren are going to be riders this year,” she added.
“Last year, we did three miles as a family because we weren’t sure how it went, but this year we’re doing 10 miles.”
Brenda Bloomgreen said the team would appreciate the community’s support by showing up for the dinner, or through donations of basket items for the raffles and auction.
In addition, people who would like to participate on the team are welcome to join.
The Ride for Roswell will be holding its kick-off event on June 21 at Roswell and the actual ride will be held June 22 at the University of Buffalo stadium.
Literature provided by the team and Roswell states that funds raised are used “to fuel cutting-edge cancer research and compassionate patient-care programs at Roswell Park.”
For more information on the dinner, or any of the events, contact Bloomgren at 558-1923.
