'It's fantastic': Motorcycle Ride for Dad sets new fundraising record
West Winnipeg was filled with the sounds of more than a thousand engines revving at once, as motorcycle enthusiasts gathered to ride for a good cause Saturday.
It was the 15th annual Motorcycle Ride for Dad, with more than 1200 riders taking part. All funds raised will stay in Manitoba for prostate cancer research and education. Spokesperson Trevor Kennerd said the event has become important to Manitobans."We're all touched by cancer. We all are. My mother died of cancer, I had an aunt that passed away from cancer," said Kennerd.
He added that one in every eight Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. "If you're a male over the age of 45 you should get checked," Kennerd said.
Starting from Earls Polo Park, motorcycle riders rode west in a police-escorted parade down Portage Avenue to Assiniboia Downs, then north to Selkirk, Gimli and back. The day-long event ended with a wind-up celebration at Cowboys, Canad Inns Windsor Park.
The Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad is led by the Winnipeg Police Association with the volunteer organizing committee made up of Winnipeg police officers, firefighters, community and business leaders, and dedicated citizens.
Kennerd has been on the organizing committee for 14 of the 15 years the ride has been happening. He said it's always an incredible experience. "Just the friendship and the fellowship that we have as a committee is phenomenal," he said. "And the outpouring of support that we get from the people, from the riders, from the pledge donors, from the sponsors. It's fantastic!"
A motorcycle raffle contributed to the final fundraising total, netting over $50,000 on its own. The winner will receive their choice of a 2023 Harley-Davidson Pan American Special, a 2023 BMW R1250 GSA, or $25,000 in cash.
Kennerd said Saturday's fundraising total was close to $500,000, a new record for the event. The Motorcycle Ride for Dad has now raised more than $4 million for prostate cancer research in Manitoba.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.