Worldwide, one man dies from suicide every minute – this classy Australian charity ride aims to change this.
On Sunday, September 25, thousands of men across 90 countries will polish up for the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride.
Created by its Australian founder Mark Hawwa to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and suicide prevention, it is the world’s largest motorcycling charity event, with this year’s event bringing together over 30,000 riders.
So what inspired Mark to start the event?
Supporting men’s health
The Sydney motorcyclist spotted a photo of Don Draper from TV show ‘Mad Men’ sitting on a classic bike wearing his finest suit and thought a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles.
That first ride in 2012 attracted 2,500 riders from 64 cities and made Mark realise the event could be used to support a worthy cause. Since then, the ride has raised over US$4 million for prostate cancer research.
Now they have another focus after losing one of their ride hosts to depression – funding suicide prevention programs – through their charity partner The Movember Foundation.
The need for tweed
There’s still time to take part, with a number of rides happening around Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
There is a dapper dress code – monocles, silk vests, crisp shirts and tailored suits are the order of the day – and bikes must be a vintage or classic model.
The ride is also free, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to the cause and raise funds by asking friends, family and colleagues to donate.
You can find out more about registering to ride or making a donation here.
And watch a video about last year’s ride here.
