Get out and ride. That is what co-chair for Calgary's Ride for Dad, Steve Adair, promoted last Saturday during the 10th annual ride. “It has been excellent. We had a great day today and the support has been tremendous, ” Adair said.
Get out and ride.
That is what co-chair for Calgary's Ride for Dad, Steve Adair, promoted last Saturday during the 10th annual ride.
“It has been excellent. We had a great day today and the support has been tremendous, ” Adair said.
The annual ride, sponsored by TELUS, brings out hundreds of riders every year to raise funds to support prostate cancer research while also raising public awareness for the disease.
Approximately 450 riders rode their motorcycles and Off Highway Vehicles to Springbank Park for All Seasons last weekend to support the cause. The co-chair estimated funds raised would be between $100,000 and $120,000, including sponsorship.
“Springbank is a great place to meet up, All Seasons has opened their doors to make this event happen and we really appreciate their support, ” Adair said.
The Ride for Dad has been in Canada since 2000, with 30 to 35 chapters across the country. Funds raised by the Calgary chapter go to the Prostate Cancer Centre at the Rocky View General Hospital, Adair explained.
“Every man can be affected and it is a completely preventable disease if checked early enough and we want to get the word out that they can be checked and men's lives can be saved, ” Adair said.
One of the Prostate Cancer Centre's initiatives is the Man Van, Canada's first and only men's mobile health clinic, offering prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood testing through rural southern Alberta, according to the centre's website. The van was on site the day of the ride, offering early testing to the riders.
Money raised also goes to fund research projects, such as Dr. Morley Hollenberg's project researching how prostate cells can turn cancerous, Adair explained. Last year more than $40,000 left over from last year's fundraiser was donated to Hollenberg's research.
For more information on the annual Ride for Dad or how to support prostate cancer research go to ridefordad.ca
