A few years ago I met a man, who didn't look ill even though he told me he had Prostate Cancer. Over a period of...
Established in 2008, the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride For Dad has raised over $2.8M for the fight against prostate cancer. Proceeds stay in Manitoba and are invested in ground-breaking prostate cancer research and life-saving public awareness campaigns of the disease and the importance of early detection.
RIDE DAY – SATURDAY MAY 28, 2022 – 10:00 AM OFFICIAL START
PRE-REGISTRATION: THURSDAY MAY 26 & FRIDAY MAY 27 – 4PM TO 8PM – EARLS POLO PARK
APRIL 14, 2022
news release
WINNIPEG, MB: The Winnipeg Police Association (WPA) is proud to announce the 14th annual Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad (MRFD) is returning to a single Ride Day format – Saturday, May 28, 2022. The six-week prostate cancer awareness and education campaign begins April 14 – presenting sponsor, PlayNow.com
“We are officially launching the 14th Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad campaign fighting prostate cancer,” said Moe Sabourin, President, Winnipeg Police Association and Co-Chair of the Ride for Dad. “Over the next six weeks, leading up to Ride Day, our organizing committee and media partners will be working hard to inform Manitobans of the importance of early detection of prostate cancer. We invite all motorcycle enthusiasts to join the fight by registering for the Ride online and collecting pledge donations – visit, ridefordad.ca/manitoba.”
The campaign kick-off event scheduled for tomorrow at Trans Canada Brewing Co. has been cancelled due to weather conditions.
A cheque for $160,000 – proceeds from the 2021 MRFD – will be presented to the Genomic Centre for Prostate Cancer Research and Manitoba Prostate Cancer Support Group representing Manitoba prostate cancer researchers. Over the past thirteen years, the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad has raised over $2.8M in the fight against prostate cancer. Proceeds stay in Manitoba for prostate cancer research and education.
The 2022 Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad starts at Earls Polo Park and continues with a police escorted parade west on Portage Avenue to Assiniboia Downs, then on to Selkirk, Gimli and back for the wind-up event at Cowboys, Canad Inns Windsor Park. The goal of the 2022 MRFD is to surpass the record for number of registered riders (1,547) and pledge donations (over $360,000) set in 2019.
More than 1.2 million men in Canada have prostate cancer and 80 per cent of them don’t know it. Ed Johner, prostate cancer survivor and Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad spokesperson, says a simple three-minute test can save your life. “I wouldn’t be here today if I had avoided being tested,” said Johner. “That’s our message to men and their families – the best way to fight prostate cancer is with early diagnosis.”
The Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad organizing committee is led by Kirk Van Alstyne and Moe Sabourin of the Winnipeg Police Association (WPA). “We’re very excited about a return to the single Ride Day format,” said Van Alstyne. “We anticipate a record number of registered Riders this year and everyone is looking forward to a great Ride Day. Thank you to all pledge donors, registered Riders, volunteers and sponsors led by presenting sponsor, PlayNow.com.”
2022 Celebrity Ride Captains are Adam Bighill, Winnipeg Blue Bombers; Ami Houde, women’s motocross champion; Charlie Huddy, assistant coach, Winnipeg Jets; Bob Dyce, assistant coach, Ottawa Redblacks; and Gord Leclerc, former news anchor.
Register for the 2022 Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad or make a pledge donation online by visiting www.ridefordad.ca/manitoba
Contacts:
Presenting Sponsor:
Kingston-Quinte
A few years ago I met a man, who didn't look ill even though he told me he had Prostate Cancer. Over a period of...
Manitoba
In 2009 I met this amazing person after hearing his story and deciding we should start a chapter in Manitoba for Ride For Dad. Over...
Edmonton
John McNeilly was a founding member of the Edmonton Motorcycle Ride for Dad (“MRFD”) and served as the Co-chair for the first 4 years, and...
Saskatoon
I signed up as a volunteer with Saskatoon’s Ride for Dad, with little knowledge of the group or what prostate cancer was even about. It...
A few years ago I met a man, who didn’t look ill even though he told me he had Prostate Cancer. Over a period of time I got to know him better. He was always jovial and I thought PC can’t be all that bad. Then one day I was having coffee with him and before I left I said to him:
…What are you up to this afternoon Charlie? Well I guess he thought it was time to clue me in.
He said, Garry, if someone had told me ONE year ago about the PSA test, I wouldn’t be going home this afternoon to arrange my own funeral!
I was speechless!
Not until later did I find out about the PSA test and that it can be used as a tool to detect Prostate Cancer. I didn’t know then that a dozen men in Canada die from it every day!
Not long after, Charlie passed away.
Since that day I have been raising funds through our own organization, the PCFF.
In 2009 I met this amazing person after hearing his story and deciding we should start a chapter in Manitoba for Ride For Dad. Over the past decade, this man has inspired me and many others with his determination, courage and a great love for life. He has given countless days and hours each year, getting the RFD message and awareness out there will telling his own story of survival. He is one of the main reasons we all Ride for Dad.
John McNeilly was a founding member of the Edmonton Motorcycle Ride for Dad (“MRFD”) and served as the Co-chair for the first 4 years, and continued as a Director until his death. He was awarded the Kiwanis Top Cop award in 2009 for his work with and for MRFD.
John served 2 years as the Western Canadian Manager overseeing all rides in Western Canada and was instrumental in starting rides in Didsbury, Vancouver Island, Yellowknife, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg.
John’s quiet style of leadership was respected by all and his sometimes dark, but well-timed humor was sure to set the tone and mood of a meeting. He never spoke before thinking about his response, and his guidance was sound. He was involved in not just MRFD, but HOG, Blue Knights, Masons, to name just a few as well as serving 35 years with the Edmonton Police Service.
John started with the Edmonton Police Service in 1977, was promoted to the Drug Unit in 1988, and spent the remainder of his career in plainclothes with the exception of an 18 month period when he was in the Sergeant’s position. In 1992, John left the Drug Unit to work in a variety of other investigation units. John received a “Police Exemplary Service” medal in February 1998, and a “First Bar” in 2008. John retired from the Edmonton Police Service on January 25, 2013.
John passed away on March 24, 2020, after a hard battle with lung cancer that spread throughout his body; he was 64 years old. John will be dearly missed by his family, many friends, coworkers, and associates.
I signed up as a volunteer with Saskatoon’s Ride for Dad, with little knowledge of the group or what prostate cancer was even about. It was a great group, and tho some faces have changed…its still a great group…. I’ve learned so much about prostate cancer, the treatment options, and I enjoy sharing that knowledge with others…
A couple of years after I started with this group, I was myself diagnosed with prostate cancer…… My Urologist said.. “You have a tiny bit of cancer on the right side of your prostate”, and then “We couldn’t have caught it earlier”. Because the cancer was detected early.. I had a wide choice of treatment options and had a procedure known as brachytherapy where radioactive seeds are inserted in and around the cancerous tissue. Tho it hasn’t been without a few minor glitches…everything turned out really well, and my PSA today hovers around 0.03
As mentioned earlier…when starting I didn’t know anything about prostate cancer and frankly without the knowledge gained from working with the Ride for Dad group… I probably wouldn’t have bothered having a digital exam or the PSA test….and very likely would have been another very sad victim of something almost 98% successfully treatable when caught early…..
Encouraging others to get checked, talking to other men who’ve been diagnosed, or to groups to educate them on the importance of having regular check-ups, and some of the treatment options out there….That’s where its at for me….
As Ride Captain, I’ve met so so many wonderful and amazing people.. They are Sponsors, Service Club Members, City and Town Employees, other Ride for Dad Volunteers ….and some are Survivors….. and believe it or not….I have many memories of my interactions with all those amazing people that bring tears to my eyes…. And on top of all that…..just maybe we help save a few lives to…… That’s Why I Ride!
Ottawa
For the first 12 years with The Ride For Dad, I rode my ’86 Harley Davidson FLST Heritage Softail, red and cream For the last...
Manitoba
My ride 2014 Heritage Softail. Day ride to Carmen, Winkler, Morden, Elm Creek and Oakville. Back to Groose Isle. 350 km.
Ottawa
Too bad it took me so long to discover the BMW R1200RT! It is a magnificent, powerful sport touring machine designed and built by German...
Yukon
2012 Yamaha Stryker I've only ridden a few bikes, but when you find one that feels right, you know. This bike feels right. The only...
Yukon
The first photo is the way my bike looked when I first got it. It's a 1979 Honda Goldwing GL 1000. Aside from the cosmetics...
For the first 12 years with The Ride For Dad, I rode my ’86 Harley Davidson FLST Heritage Softail, red and cream
For the last 8 years I have ridden my 2012 Harley Davidson FatBoy Lo, flat black.
My ride 2014 Heritage Softail. Day ride to Carmen, Winkler, Morden, Elm Creek and Oakville. Back to Groose Isle. 350 km.
Other standard features include ABS Pro, heated grips and seats, Automatic Stability Control, Riding Modes (Road/Rain), Adjustable Power Windshield, On-board Computer Pro, height adjustable rider’s seat and LED lamps.
Pressing the INFO button scrolls through all the menus to setup the bike, including suspension preload (rider, rider with luggage, two-up), Electronic damping settings (Soft, Normal, Hard), travel information such as tire pressure, fuel consumption, fuel range, amazing audio system, and more.
2012 Yamaha Stryker
I’ve only ridden a few bikes, but when you find one that feels right, you know. This bike feels right. The only thing I modified was a seatback -for peace of mind when I have a passenger, particularly my daughter.