A procession of dapper suits and vintage chrome is set to take over the city streets later this month for a very important cause.
On Sunday, May 17, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride will return to Toronto for its 15th year. This global event brings together hundreds of riders in their finest formal attire to support prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs through the Movember Foundation.
Unlike your typical biker rally, the annual ride swaps leather jackets for tailored blazers and classic motorcycles like café racers, scramblers, and bobbers. The goal is to challenge stereotypes while sparking much-needed conversations about health issues that often go unspoken.
The Toronto leg of the journey will kick off bright and early at 8:00 a.m. at the historic Distillery District, and will depart promptly at 9:00 a.m., weaving through a scenic urban route showcasing some of the city’s most iconic backdrops.
While participation in the event is free, riders and spectators are encouraged to donate or sponsor a participant to help hit this year’s fundraising goals. So far, the Toronto community has already raised $61.4K dollars at the time of writing, proving that looking good and doing good go hand-in-hand.
The ride is scheduled to loop back to the Distillery District around 11:00 a.m. for a community showcase and celebration. This is the perfect opportunity for the public to get an up-close look at the vintage bikes and meet the dapper folks behind the handlebars.
Eric Hendrikx, Toronto local, ride host, and the highest fundraiser for the Toronto ride, will be participating in this year’s event along with the founder, who is flying in from Australia to join. Hendrikx will also be releasing a book Motorcycle Life later this year, which helps to fund both the Gentleman’s Ride and Movember through donating 100% of royalties.
You can find more details on how to register or donate on the official Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride website.
