Riding for Dad
Fewer riders, solid donations at Ride for Dad 2016.
Motorcycle riders at the starting line for the Avalon Motorcycle Ride for Dad on Saturday morning were the few, the brave: ready to drive around St. John’s and Mount Pearl at a temperature of four or five degrees, with light drizzle.
Chris Marsh said he was prepared to go the distance — readied with chaps, gloves, a helmet visor and rain clothes.
“If you plan to ride in Newfoundland, sometimes you have to take the cold weather with the warm weather,” he said.
The Ride for Dad is an annual event meant to draw awareness to the importance of men having a prostate exam, to catch cancer early. The event also raises money for cancer research and patient care.
Marsh has been out for the ride for the last few years to support the cause — thinking of relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I do the Ride for Dad every year since I got my licence. I ride in memory of my grandfather,” said fellow rider Sherri Gosse, who has three Ride for Dad events under her belt now.
She said she was ready for this year, with her warm gloves, layered clothes and a visor on her helmet.
“I’m not sure how long it’s going to last, but I’m here,” she said with a laugh, surrounded by other riders who were gulping down warm beverages and standing in small huddles before starting the ride.
Pre-ride speeches drove home the message on the doctor visit: early detection saves lives.
“My father-in-law, he is a prostate cancer survivor. And it was early detection that got him through it,” said Jennifer Walck, president of Hibernia Management and Development Co. Ltd., before thanking the year’s participants for their gathered donations.
A prostate cancer survivor, Brian O’Connell of VOCM, said he had no symptoms when he was diagnosed, and everyone should encourage men in their lives to get checked.
“All of this would not have happened if I had not done one thing. I was vigilant. My father had prostate cancer. I knew that I was a candidate, so I went to my family doctor and I had a checkup every single year,” he said. “If I had not caught it, perhaps I would not be here today.”
The 2016 riders started their engines at 10 a.m. at the Newfoundland Power parking lot on Kenmount Road, but the bikes numbered far fewer than in past years.
“I do the Ride for Dad every year since I got my licence. I ride in memory of my grandfather.” Rider Sherri Gosse
The official count was ultimately about 200, with roughly 300 riders — around one-third the number of participating riders when compared to peak years.
But the most important count for organizers was not the number of motorcycles on the road. While the number of riders was down, the donations did not drop to a level to match. Including all on-site pledges, corporate contributions, online registrations and donations, merchandise and the addition of just over $16,000 from earlier events in western and central Newfoundland, the round, grand total raised was $175,000.