J’ai rencontré un homme qui ne semblait pas malade bien qu’il soit atteint d’un cancer de la prostate. Il m’a déclaré que si quelqu’un lui avait parlé du test de dépistage de l’APS un an plus tôt, il ne serait pas en train de préparer ses propres funérailles. Cela m’a provoqué tout un choc!

Peu de temps après, Charlie est décédé. J’ai appris par la suite qu’une douzaine d’hommes meurt chaque jour d’un cancer de la prostate au Canada, et qu’un simple test de dépistage de l’APS peut permettre de déceler la maladie. Depuis ce jour, je collecte des fonds et je sensibilise la population à la lutte contre le cancer de la prostate.

Garry Janz

Cofondateur de la Randonnée pour papa

Pourquoi je participe à la randonnée : Liberté et camaraderie. Faire de la randonnée avec des amis et des inconnus, mais toujours seuls avec nos pensées.

Pourquoi je participe à la Randonnée pour papa : Parce que j’estime qu’il est injuste que chaque jour une douzaine d’hommes décèdent du cancer de la prostate.

Parce que je crois au pouvoir écrasant d’un grand groupe de personnes ayant un objectif commun.

Parce que je crois qu’un jour nous pourrons vaincre le cancer de la prostate.

Parce que je crois que la Randonnée pour papa est l’organisation qui nous permettra d’y arriver.

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.

Ken combined his love of motorcycle riding with his passion for organizing charitable causes by volunteering as a Site-Coordinator for the annual Edmonton Chapter of the Motorcycle Ride For Dad (RFD) bike rally in 2010. This charitable organization was set up to raise awareness of prostate cancer in men and fund research for better early detection methods of this cancer.

In an ironic twist of fate, undiagnosed prostate cancer is the disease that took Ken’s life at age 59 early in 2012. Ken is survived by his wife Ilene two sons, Christopher and Ryan, and two daughters Heather and Katherine. Christopher is carrying on in his capacity as a graphic artist to support the 2012 Edmonton Motorcycle Ride For Dad.

Ken’s attention to detail and ability to organize will be missed by the organizing committee of the Edmonton Motorcycle Ride For Dad. To die completely, a person must not only have passed on, but be forgotten, and Ken will never be forgotten by those of us on the organizing committee whose lives he touched.

I mourn the loss of a close friend that I have known for many years. Ken was one of those people that came into my life that I immediately knew was meant to be there. I must soldier on without Ken to do as he would say “do this, that and the other thing”.

Bob Chalmers had several hobbies/passions, one of which was motorcycling.  Bob was one of the first members of the “Red Knights Chapter Alberta 1”, a motorcycle club whose members are mostly firefighters.  With his fellow club members, Bob travelled a lot on his motorcycle; he attended several Red Knights conventions (e.g. Warwick, RI; New York, NY; Boston, MA, Winnipeg, MB; Montreal, QC, etc.).  Bob was quite proud to state he had been to every province in Canada and most of the United States on his bike (1982, 1999, and then his 2008 Honda Gold Wing – the only way to travel)!

In 2007, Bob was one of the founding members of Edmonton’s Motorcycle Ride for Dad Executive, and, in 2007 and 2008, carried out his duties on the Sponsorship Committee with dedication and enthusiasm. As a member of the MRFD, Bob was able to combine two passions…motorcycling and helping others.  Don Brandon and Bob would seek sponsors for Prostate Cancer in Edmonton and they made a good team!  In 2008, Bob was instrumental in getting the “Alberta Rural Ride for Dad” started with his brother-in-law, Tony Overwater, of Didsbury, AB. That Ride continues to grow and be very successful!  Bob was a proud member of the Edmonton Fire Department for 35 years (October 1973 to December 2008).  In June 2003, Bob was diagnosed with leukemia, one of the prescribed cancers for the purposes of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act for firefighters.  He was doing fairly well until 2009, but on July 6th, Bob lost his fight with leukemia.

Pendant les 12 premières années avec The Ride For Dad, j’ai piloté mon ’86 Harley Davidson FLST Heritage Softail, rouge et crème

Au cours des 8 dernières années, j’ai monté ma Harley Davidson FatBoy Lo 2012, noir mat.

My favourite of the bikes I’ve owned. A 2006 Triumph Bonneville T-100.

Custom paint and retro styling give this British classic a memorable look..

The original 875cc engine carb set up has been boosted with aftermarket K&N jets and custom exhaust that provide a throaty sound and added double-digit horsepower. Lots of added safety and performance enhancements.

A great handling, peppy, head-turner.

Ride Safe!