'Leather-clad dudes' raise money, awareness for prostate cancer with Motorcycle Ride for Dad

With more than 1,500 registered riders, the Manitoba MotorcycleRide for Dad smashed its previous participation record this weekend and raised over $300,000 to fight prostate cancer in the process.

On Saturday, hundreds of motorcyclists met in Winnipeg to ride together from the starting point near Polo Park Shopping Centre on Portage Avenueall the way to Selkirk and Gimli, Man., in a police-escorted parade.

The event is held in cities across Canada to raise money for prostate cancer research and awareness. In the past nine years, Manitoba riders have raised more than $1.8 million.

• Bikers break $1M mark in Winnipeg ride for prostate cancer awareness

This year, 1,510 riders registered in the province, setting a new record for participation. The last record was set in 2014 with 1,437 participants.

"Overall, it's fantastic. This is what you wish for and dream for, just to have such a good turnout. You just want to have a safe riding day and a good time for everybody,"said Manitoba Ride for Dad co-chairKirk VanAlstyne.

"It's extremely gratifying to be able to put in this kind of work and get these kind of results. The funds stay here for awareness and research, which is actually being done locally here in Winnipeg."

Van Alstynesaid he hopes the ride will show people the importance of getting checked for prostate cancer.

"This disease is very preventable, 90 per cent curable if it's caught early enough," he said. "Just do it. It's worth it. It's painless.And if all these leather-clad dudes can do it, everybody can do it."

• Ride for Dad

The Manitoba rideis led by the Winnipeg Police Association. Rides across the country are funded by Telus.

The day-long event started at 10 a.m. and will end with a wind-up in Winnipeg at Cowboys, inCanad Inns Windsor Park.