As to why I ride, about 5 years ago my attention was brought to the ride (the Rural AB Ride at the time) because I work for Telus.  They wanted some local representation there for the ride.  After that, it became my annual “big ride” event.  About a year after I started going regularly, a close family friend was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  He was diagnosed early and beat it easily due mainly to the early diagnosis.  This cemented my desire to support this charity, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Last year, I participated in the 2^nd Red Deer Ride for Dad and was approached by the Ride Chairperson, who asked if I wanted to take a more direct role by joining the executive council.  I agreed.

My name is Mike Lewis and I love riding my trike and seeing the countryside roll by. Being a truck driver for 34 years, the open road is my life. That was all interrupted in 2020.
I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. With great medical team and support system behind me and now proud to say that I am cancer free.

I joined Ride for Dad Red Deer in 2021. As a survivor I can truly say this is what Ride For Dad is all about. A great bunch of people who enjoy riding their bikes and fundraising for research and promoting awareness in the fight against prostate cancer.

Make sure your doctor does blood tests regularly to check for prostate cancer. A simple PSA test could change your life #GETTHEBLOODTEST

It’s about building relationships within the community and supporting a worthwhile life saving cause.

I’ve been riding since I was about 14. I’m not sure where my passion for riding comes from as I’m the only one in my family who has ever ridden. It all started on a Honda CT 70 and just grew from there. Some call it ‘Wind Therapy’ and that about sums it up for me in two words. It seems that all troubles and cares are put aside for a while and I can just relax with a grin on my face inside my helmet.

I have a brother-in-law who has prostate cancer. Fortunately, it is not aggressive and the doctors expect he will outlive the disease. This is my only connection or experience with prostate cancer. I joined Ride for Dad along with my wife. I wanted to be part of something that would help others. Part of something bigger than me. Something meaningful. Ride for Dad has given me the opportunity to do just that while being surrounded with great people who share the same passion for our amazing form of ‘therapy’, riding motorcycles.

I ride a Heritage Classic, for me, riding is a stress reliever, I don’t worry about anything when I am on the bike and cruising. I love the feel and smell of the air and that is all that I think about, I just ride and leave all the life problems behind. RFD gives me the opportunity to ride while helping to raise awareness and promote research and it is satisfying to be able to do both.

I’ve been self-employed nearly my whole working life, so riding my bike is my happy place where I can relax and get away from it all and it brings back memories of when I first took up riding as a kid in England. My Dad had a thunderous Panther 650 single with a sidecar that was his only means of transport back then. I started on a Garelli 50 cc, I’ve had dozens of different bikes, I now mostly ride 2013 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and have been riding 45 years now.

I like to contribute to RFD when I can as a tribute and remembrance to my Grandad, who passed away due to Prostate Cancer.

Jared & Sheri on their 1985 Goldwing GL1200 Aspencadea

Mike on his 2012 Yamaha Stratoliner Galaxy.

BMW K1200GT