Why We Ride

Hard to believe the last big group ride for Ride for Dad was 2 Years ago. That was a year after my Prostate Cancer Surgery. My Prostate Cancer was detected through my PSA blood work which my Dr had me do during my yearly check up, since I had turned 50, 6 months earlier. Without having the PSA done, my Prostate Cancer would not have been found at an early stage and the prospects of Survival go down the later it is detected.

I was in the VIP section right behind the Executives for Ride for Dad on the Parade from the Aviation Museum to the Post Office building on Heron Rd. The Ride for Dad is a cause that truly hits very close to home for me, and I do what I can to help out and collect donations on my behalf for the Work that the Ride for Dad does. All monies collected from each area stay local, and goes towards Prostate Cancer Research and Awareness. YOU , YES YOU, you can help me out by donating on my behalf at the following link.

https://ridefordad.akaraisin.com/…/pledge/sponsor/donation

Every dollar helps. so help me reach my goal this year, you never know, you could be helping your Brother, your Father, your Uncle, Even your self.

So I encourage all men to talk to their doctor and get your PSA tested. It could mean saving your life

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”.

I ride for my grandfather who passed away with prostate cancer, for my uncle who is in remission from prostate cancer and for my father-in-law who is missed dearly.

I’ve ridden most of the Ottawa rides, then took a break and then got into the Okanagan ride and now this year in the Calgary ride. My reason is to put purpose in my miles of smiles and, in this case, to support the fight against prostate cancer. I had one long-time friend who didn’t make it because he was diagnosed at stage 4 at the age of 71, but another long-time friend was diagnosed at stage 1 and he’s still hale and hardy at 74.

I was reminded of this ride through Freedom’s post on Facebook. I’ve always wanted to do it but timing was often an issue. Well,I lost my dad in March and today, May 31st, would have been his birthday. So I’m riding for him this year. I miss him.

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

In 2020, I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. At the time, the only real support I had was my wife. I was approached by some members of the Red Deer Ride for Dad and the fellowship and support was amazing.

I ride to give back and fund raise to help find a cure for this disease. Get the blood test!

My grandfather, Paul Ahern, died from metastatic prostate cancer in the late 1990s. A veteran of World War II and typical of his generation he didn’t talk about his health, feelings, or dote on himself. Suffering from lower back pain became he spoke to his doctor, but the pain was thought to be due muscle strain caused by the size of his belly and he was told to lose weight. When the pain became unbearable, tests were ordered and the diagnosis was late-stage metastatic prostate cancer in the pelvis and testicles. After a number of painful surgeries and treatments, my grandfather finally succumb to the disease, it ravaged his body, and this once jolly, rotund man died a little more than a skeleton.

I Ride because I don’t want other men to die this way. Men need to take responsibility for their own health and get tested. I Ride so that doctors have better diagnostic and treatment options to prolong life and keep families together longer.

If you can’t Ride, sponsor someone who does, or donate to help Save Lives.

Rob Taylor

Ottawa