'get tested' — 100s of ride for dad motorcyclists roar out of windsor
the annual local motorcycle parade has raised $1.2 mill...
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riders leave windsor's thunder road harley davidson sunday, may 25, 2025, heading on a cross-county ride for dad cruise to raise funds for prostate cancer research.
julie kotsis
/
windsor star
to the rallying cry of ‘let’s ride!’ the rumble of 400 motorcycles kicked off the 20th annual windsor motorcycle ride for dad sunday morning starting from thunder road harley davidson.
the riders roared out of windsor on a cross-county journey, first to amherstburg then on through colchester and ending their ride in belle river.
the annual local motorcycle parade has raised $1.2 million locally for prostate cancer research, while across the country, the rides for dad have raised $43 million over the last 25 years.
organizers said the main goal of the annual event is to raise awareness in men and their families that early testing and early detection is the best way to combat the disease.
citing statistics that show one in eight men will develop prostate cancer and one in 29 will die from the disease, ride organizers emphasize the need to get tested.
hundreds of motorcyclists thundered out of thunder road harley davidson in windsor on sunday, may 25, 2025, for the start of the 20th ride for dad fundraiser.
julie kotsis
/
windsor star
“my message is always — psa (prostate-specific antigen) testing, early testing, saves your life,” garry loeper, steering committee chairman with prostate cancer support windsor/essex, told the star following the start of the ride.
“and, of course, guys also worry about the potential side effects (e.g. erectile dysfunction). well, the longer you wait in that regard, the odds are against you there as well,” loeper said.
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“guys … don’t care about survivability, until they’re told they’ve got prostate cancer, then they worry about that,” he added. “but they’re all worried about the potential side effects. we’re there to help.”
the prostate cancer support group, open to all men, offers a private and confidential place to talk about concerns around prostate cancer and the side effects of treatment, loeper added.
the drop-in meetings are held on the second tuesday of the month, except january, july and august, at 7 p.m., at hospice of windsor & essex county, 6038 empress st.
visit www.wpcsg.com for more information.
all funds raised locally via the ride for dad event remain in windsor/essex county to support prostate cancer research at the university of windsor.
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