Thousands of motorcycles flooded into Polo Park on Saturday morning for the 15th annual Ride for Dad and according to organizers of the event, it was a record turnout.
The ride has been held yearly to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer research, which is a cause close to the heart of the event’s spokesman, Ed Johner.
“I was diagnosed with prostate and kidney cancer in 2007. And because of early detection, which is a big emphasis that we try and make, I was treated for both successfully.”
The event also encourages men over 40 to get checked regularly for prostate cancer as Johner says 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully if detected early. He said 1.2 million Canadian men have prostate cancer and “80 per cent of them don’t know it.”
The ride began with a police-escorted parade down Portage Avenue, then riders went up through Selkirk to Gimli and then back down through Lockport.
Johner says the ride brings people together and is a fun time for people overall. “It’s a great day of friendship, a great day of camaraderie.”
All of the money raised for the event will go towards prostate cancer research and education in Manitoba and the early estimate for this year’s total is $500,000. Since 2009, the event has raised over $3.5 million.
— with files from Global’s Katherine Dornian