Calgary motorcycle ride raises funds for Fort McMurray

The organizer of the Calgary Motorcycle Awareness Ride says some of the funds raised this year will go to help the people affected by the Fort McMurray wildfires.

"We are Albertans and they are Albertans and that is what Albertans are about," Mick Cawthorn said.

He and four partners are each donating $10 for every rider.

"That could be an extra $7,000 or $8,000 and then we are going to figure out how to get that to the best use in Fort McMurray."

The ride, now in its 25th year, regularly draws several hundred motorcyclists.

"It is our way of showing the public that there are motorcycles on the road not just bicycles and it is our way of showing the motorcyclists to be aware of the cars around them," Cawthorn explained.

"So it is a double feature that we do to look after them."

He said it's about having fun but the fundraising is no laughing matter.

"We meet here with a show and shine, then we get a police escort to the Ranchman's where we have a BBQ, silent auction, live auction, door prizes, entertainment and some fun. Since this ride started, we have raised more than $1.2 million for charities and we try to keep the charities to local or something that is really in need."

And that 'something that is really in need' was a no brainer this year.

"You will never meet a more generous province in the country. When the floods were happening, people came and helped us," Cawthorn said.

"We will do everything we can do to help make it better for those people," he said, of our Fort McMurray neighbours.

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