Dapperly-dressed Calgary gentlemen raise awareness for men’s health initiatives

A spiffy group of motorbikers will be riding around Calgary Sunday afternoon as part of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

This is the 12th year men in our city have dressed in their Sunday best to help raise funds and awareness for men's health.

“The first year it was just a styling ride, it wasn't a fundraiser, “ says Brian Smith of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

“Then they said, 'Hey, wait, we can do this again and raise money for it.' At that point, they got in involved in prostate cancer, because it's a major men's health issue, and it wasn't until about three or four years later that they added the men's mental health component."

This year about 100 riders participated in the Calgary ride which left Blackfoot Motorsports, 6 Highfield Circle S.E. at 1 p.m. and wound through the city before ending at Ill-fated Kustoms, 5327-3 Street S.E. around 3:30 p.m.

They raised $30,000. To date, the Calgary ride has raised almost half a million dollars.

The money raised from this event will stay in Canada to support programs targeting prostate cancer and men’s mental health initiatives.

“It's really incredible to have everyone here participate in the distinguished gentleman's ride,” says Reggie Tenchavez with Movember Canada.

“We've teamed up with them since 2016 and together we just have the same common mission of changing the face of men's health and bringing people together."

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride began was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2012 by Mark Hawwa, but in 2016 Movember became the official charity partner.

Since 2012, the event has raised more than $60 million Canadian for prostate cancer research and men’s health worldwide.