I was invited to join the board without ever having been involved in any sort of organized ride. I'd recently bought a bike and was...
I was invited to join the board without ever having been involved in any sort of organized ride. I’d recently bought a bike and was starting to ride, but it was more about my being a healthcare professional and someone who dedicates time to worthy causes. Each aspect of that has flourished. I am committed to this cause because I see the need and the difference we make. The more I learned about prostate cancer and Ride for Dad, the more I invested in doing more. I am part of an amazing board, community, and organization that loves what we do and continually strives to do it bigger and better. And I live in a part of the world that is gorgeous, and best viewed from a bike during an outing with great people.
Sheryl Boggs
Ottawa
I have known a number of colleagues, friends, and family who have fought for their lives, all because they didn’t get an annual test. We...
Steve Macaulay
Durham & GTE
Prostate cancer is not new to my family. My father got it in the early 80s. He received early treatment and survived to an old...
Why We Ride
Sean Secord
Yukon
Author: Sean Secord
I was invited to join the board without ever having been involved in any sort of organized ride. I’d recently bought a bike and was starting to ride, but it was more about my being a healthcare professional and someone who dedicates time to worthy causes. Each aspect of that has flourished. I am committed to this cause because I see the need and the difference we make. The more I learned about prostate cancer and Ride for Dad, the more I invested in doing more. I am part of an amazing board, community, and organization that loves what we do and continually strives to do it bigger and better. And I live in a part of the world that is gorgeous, and best viewed from a bike during an outing with great people.
Sheryl Boggs
Ottawa
Author: Sheryl Boggs
I have known a number of colleagues, friends, and family who have fought for their lives, all because they didn’t get an annual test.
We need to reach out to as many people as we can and get them tested.
Souvenir Coordinator
Ottawa Chapter
Steve Macaulay
Durham & GTE
Author: Steve Macaulay
Prostate cancer is not new to my family. My father got it in the early 80s. He received early treatment and survived to an old age. In April of 2015, I too was diagnosed with prostate cancer. No matter how much you prepare yourself for the possible bad news, it still hits you like a truck. But the good news was that it was caught early by having regular PSA tests.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men. It generally affects men over 40. Successful treatment depends on early detection. I cannot stress this enough – get checked! Have your PSA test done annually.
In October of 2015, I received treatment at Sunnybrook Hospital. I have been cancer-free since then and I’m well on my way to beating the disease. It is programs like Ride for Dad that contribute to raising awareness for this disease. Much of the funds raised go towards research and public awareness.
In the longer term, research into improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention will further improve our capacity to deal with this disease.
I urge everyone to help support Ride for Dad in some capacity, whether it is volunteering, raising, or donating funds, or simply by encouraging the men you know to get checked regularly. Together we can save more lives.
Tina Gibson
Ottawa
Author: Tina Gibson
This is the who and the why that I volunteer Ottawa Motorcycle Ride For Dad – my Dad. He is a 5-year Prostate Cancer Survivor and it is my wish that all men get checked yearly with a simple, painless, PSA blood test – early detection of this disease is the reason that more family photos like this can happen.
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!