RIDING WITH HEART
Hundreds of motorcycles leave Thunder Road Harley-Davidson on Ambassador Drive in Windsor Sunday morning at the start of the seventh annual ride Bob Probert Ride. This year’s event raised more than $100,000 for cardiac care in Windsor-Essex.
The hundreds of bikes lined up on Ambassador Drive was enough to bring tears to Dani Probert’s eyes.
Every motorcycle stretching around the Thunder Road Harley Davidson — and the more than 1,000 riders — represented emotional and monetary support in honour of the late NHL enforcer Bob Probert.
That support translated into more than $100,000 raised for cardiac care in Windsor-Essex before bikers even revved their engines Sunday morning at the seventh annual Bob Probert Ride.
Bob Probert’s surviving family — his wife Dani, his children Brogan, Tierney, Jack and Declyn, his mother Theresa and father-in-law Jim — are the driving force behind the ride.
“There’s no words,” Dani Probert said.
“There really are no words for this. It’s overwhelming. The week leading up, there’s so much work. It’s an emotional roller-coaster ride coming up, just to get here.
“And when we came around the corner off Huron Church and we pulled onto Ambassador, and you see all those bikes already lined up on the road — yeah. Got a little teary eyed, not going to lie.”
Bob Probert died of a heart attack in 2010 at the age of 45. He left behind his family and an unmatched legacy in the NHL as an enforcer with hockey skills who played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sunday marked the seventh year of the event. Sponsor contributions and the June 2 Probert Classic, organized by Bob’s daughter Tierney, raised $23,000.
In the previous six years, riders raised a combined $647,000.
Previous Bob Probert Rides raised funds for an Ouellette Avenue angioplasty suite, according to Bill Marra, vice-president of external affairs at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and executive director of the Changing Lives Together Foundation.
The 2017 proceeds will be directed towards satellite locations to create greater access to cardiac services in Windsor-Essex. HotelDieu Grace Healthcare sees 25,000 patients a year in its cardiac and pulmonary rehab program.
“It’s really about the community coming together, taking care of our own,” Marra said. “It’s really our women, our men, our fathers, our moms. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in Canada. So it’s incredibly important that we invest in programs and enhance our services.
“And our goal is to create some satellite locations, to make it easier to get access to services.”
Sunday attracted a mix of supporters — riders, current and former hockey players, union members and people whose lives have been touched by cardiac events.
Dave Hutchison, a former NHL player and friend of Bob Probert, was the ride captain.
LaSalle native and Edmonton Oilers player Zack Kassian called Bob Probert a legend.
“I’ve been around the league for six, seven years now,” Kassian said. “It’s one of those things where, when it comes to charity and helping people out, the hockey community really sticks together and helps each other out in that regard.
“To have ex-players, current players here, just shows that the hockey community is very tight and close.”
Kassian said he didn’t grow up in a biking family, but got into motorbikes about six years ago.
“I find it relaxing,” he said. “It’s something that I can get on and slowly unwind — it’s just me and the road.”
Sunday’s sunny and warm weather made for a perfect riding day and helped bring out the crowds, Dani Probert said. The final total for the 2017 Bob Probert Ride will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Whether you’re a hockey fan, or you just love to ride or you’ve experienced a cardiac incident in your family or with yourself — they’re all put together,” Probert said.
“Everyone gets together. Windsor’s such a great community. When it comes to fundraising, and giving back and participating, we rock. Let’s face it, we do.”