This Saturday, motorcycle riders across Central Alberta will be roaring into Didsbury to help encourage men to get checked out and feel more comfortable talking about cancers below the belt.
This is the fourth annual Rural Ride for Dad, an awareness campaign and fundraiser for prostate cancer.
“These guys are bringing awareness, they're saving men's lives and that's the ultimate goal,” said Dean Harper, organizer of the event. He said last year there were about 96 riders who rumbled into town from across Central Alberta after finishing different routes around the area.
Starting points include Red Deer, High River and Olds. Everyone will converge in Olds in the afternoon and head along Highway 2A to Didsbury from there.
“This year we should have about 100 riders for sure. Possibly 300 to 400,” he said of the group's efforts to increase promotion this year. “If we break 200 we're going to do our ‘yippee dance, woo-hoo.'” The group has also upped its funding goal from $100,000 to $150,000.
According to Prostate Cancer Canada, the most common cancer among Canadian men will affect one in seven. An estimated 25,500 men will be diagnosed this year, not including cases that go undiagnosed due to men's unwillingness to go for an annual checkup. As well, it's often without symptoms in its earlier, most curable stage – making annual testing more important.
“All of the money stays within the province,” said Harper, who explained the money is allocated towards research and awareness and has gone towards research at the U of A and equipment at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary.
“As soon as Red Deer finishes their cancer wing then our money will be staying within the rural community in Red Deer.”
The windup in Didsbury will feature Kerry James from Heartland, monster trucks and face painting. “We're doing a few growing pains to draw more people in.” Registration will run 8 to 9 Saturday morning in the three different starting points and riders will leave at 9:30.
“You don't have to ride to help out,” said Harper. Pledges can be made or people can show up along 2A in the afternoon to cheer on the riders coming in.
