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...
About Us
Established in 2009, the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride For Dad has raised over $4 M 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.
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May 27, 2023
15TH ANNUAL MANITOBA MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR DAD SETS NEW RECORD FOR TOTAL FUNDS RAISED
WINNIPEG, MB: Today, the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad (MRFD) celebrated its 15TH Ride and attracted over 1,200 registered riders. Funds raised from today’s Ride will total over $500,000 – a new record – bringing the 15-year fundraising total to over $4 million dollars. Proceeds stay in Manitoba for prostate cancer research and education.
“The outpouring of support from Manitobans this year was incredible,” said MRFD co-chair, Kirk Van Alstyne. “We are so very grateful to our riders, pledge donors, sponsors, media partners and volunteers. Special thanks to our new national partner, BMW Motorrad and regional presenting sponsor, PlayNow.”
Starting from Earls Polo Park, motorcycle riders rode west in a police escorted parade down Portage Avenue to Assiniboia Downs, then north to Selkirk, Gimli and back. The day-long event culminates with a wind-up celebration at Cowboys, Canad Inns Windsor Park.
Guest speakers for the official start were Audrey Gordon, Manitoba Minister of Health; Scott Halley, Deputy Chief, Winnipeg Police Service; Jarrod Hall, Inspector, RCMP; Cory Wiles, President, Winnipeg Police Association; Tom Bilous, President, United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg; Christian Schmidt, Chief, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service; Danielle Rice, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries; Moe Sabourin and Kirk Van Alstyne, MRFD co-Chairs; and Ed Johner, MRFD spokesperson. The event Emcee was long-time Winnipeg media personality, Jim Ingebrigtsen.
Top fundraisers for the 2023 Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad are:
- Tim Fawcett – $17,843.00
- Brad Van Wyck – $16,572.00
- Tony Kusiak – $14,981.00
- Bill Brokke – $12,819.80
- Hank Hildebrand – $12,208.00
A motorcycle raffle contributed to the final fundraising total, netting over $50,000. The final draw happens today at the MRFD windup event, where the winner will receive their choice of a 2023 Harley-Davidson Pan American Special or a 2023 BMW R1250 GSA – or $25,000 in cash.
Motorcycle Raffle Winning Ticket is #08043
50/50 Winning Ticket for $2,800 is # 0326
The Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad is led by the Winnipeg Police Association with the volunteer organizing committee made up of Winnipeg police officers, firefighters, community and business leaders, and dedicated citizens.
Contacts:
- Ed Johner, Spokesperson, MRFD: (204) 794-5602 edjohner@icloud.com
- Moe Sabourin, Co-Chair, MRFD: (204) 228-4301 wpa1701@gmail.com
- Kirk Van Alstyne, Co-Chair, MRFD: (204) 470-9913 kIrkvana1525@gmail.com
www.ridefordad.ca/manitoba
@ridefordadmb
Pre-Registration
PRE-REGISTRATION: THURSDAY MAY 25 & FRIDAY MAY 26 FROM 4PM TO 8PM – EARLS POLO PARK
Celebrity Ride Captains
Bob Dyce
Head Coach, Ottawa Redblacks
Gord Leclerc
Media Celebrity
Adam Bighill
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Poncho Parker
Host, 92 CITI FM
Chapter Executives
2023 Top Fundraisers
Top Teams
Top Donors
Why We Ride
Ed Johner
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...
Submit My Why
Charlie Pester
Kingston-Quinte
Author: Garry Janz
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.
Garry Janz
Co-Founder and President of Ride For Dad and the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation.
Ed Johner
Manitoba
Author: Kirk Van Alstyne
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
Edmonton
Author: Garry Crawford
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.
Vince Streukens
Saskatoon
Author: Vince Streukens
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!
What We Ride
Byron Smith
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...
Lorne Rezansoff
Manitoba
My ride 2014 Heritage Softail. Day ride to Carmen, Winkler, Morden, Elm Creek and Oakville. Back to Groose Isle. 350 km.
Garry Janz
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...
Submit My Ride
Byron Smith
Ottawa
Author: Byron Smith
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.
Lorne Rezansoff
Manitoba
Author: Lorne Rezansoff
My ride 2014 Heritage Softail. Day ride to Carmen, Winkler, Morden, Elm Creek and Oakville. Back to Groose Isle. 350 km.
Garry Janz
Ottawa
Author: Garry Janz
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 engineers. Features include Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment, Shift Assist Pro (for both up- and downshifts), central locking system for the luggage and storage compartments, low and high seats, cruise control, and keyless ignition.
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.
Sean Secord
Yukon
Author: Sean Secord
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.
Pierre Allard
Yukon
Author: Pierre Allard
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 that I changed to my liking; the engine cylinders needed to be bored out with all-new crankshaft and connecting rod bearings imported from Germany…!
Tom from Honda helped with the carbs and timing. Almost everything needed to be gone through like the brakes, suspension, cooling system, and electrical.
The second photo is the finished product, however, I am still finding stuff that needs doing haha.
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