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The Manitoba chapter of Motorcycle Ride for Dad is celebrating its 17th annual ride to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer.
"Our first ride was in 2009, and I think we had about 487 riders," says spokesman Ed Johner with Motorcycle Ride for Dad. "The ride has since then grown to as many as 1,500. Last year, we raised $650,000 in the fight against prostate cancer."
The money raised each year during the ride stays in Manitoba to help those fighting prostate cancer.
"It starts as a police-escorted parade in front of Earl's at Polo Park. Westbound Portage Avenue to Assinaboine Downs. From there, riders embark on a poker derby format. We have a card stop in Selkirk, in Gimli, and then on the way back into the city there's a card stop in Lockport, and we wind up at Canad Inns Windsor Park."
According to Johner, one in eight Canadian men will contract prostate cancer. It's also estimated that 1.2 million Canadian men have prostate cancer with 80 per cent who don't know it.
"It's true about early detection. It pays off. Ninty per cent of cases that are detected early are treated successfully."
Johner joined after he battled prostate and kidney cancer himself in 2007. At the time Johner didn't have any symptoms to alert him to get a checkup.
"The hardest part was finding out about the kidney cancer. Thank heavens my wife was with me in the doctors office because when he told me I had it, the room went black and I couldn't hear anything. It was a pretty devastating thing to find out. But even though I had no symptoms, it was detected early and treated successfully. Here I am, 18 years later and still clear."
This year the ride takes place on May 31. Registration is open now and the organization will also be set up the two days prior to take any donations from people and for riders to pre-register.