Gentlemen (and Ladies) start your motorcycles
for The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride
John Newman
My mate Neil has just tapped me up for some money. He didn't specify an amount so I sent twenty five quid. It wasn't for him personally, or to keep his ever changing stable of dodgy Moto Guzzis on the road.
Neil has signed up to be part of the 'The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride' (DGR) on Sunday September 28th in London; a world wide piece of motorcycle theatre designed to have fun and raise funds for four Prostate Cancer charities across the planet: in the UK the money will go to 'Prostate Cancer UK'.
The ride started life in 2012 and has grown quickly in terms of countries participating: this year 55 countries and 220 cities are set to wave off their riders. You can't enter on just any motorcycle, you'll need to find a classic or retro bike in keeping with the era, think TV series 'Mad Men', and rig yourself out in some dapper clothing.
(The website gives a nod to genteel Ladyfolk, but there are no pictures of female riders)
Men are generally a bit rubbish about health, so it's good to see how positive the response to the event and the charity has been, as it's estimated that 1300 blokes die each day from this form of cancer worldwide.
Unfortunately I'm not able to be in London for the ride, as I'd love to see how Neil, like me the archetypal scruffy biker, interprets dapper, and if his Moto Guzzi Le Mans makes the distance.
More information, pictures, and details of how to donate at
https://www.gentlemansride.com/about/about-dgr
Are you giong on this? Email us at
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