Riders depart Earls Polo Park in the 17th annual Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad on Saturday, May 31, 2025. This year’s ride will take place on May 30. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
The countdown is on to the 18th annual Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad next month, as organizers kicked off the six-week awareness campaign on Friday.
“Our 2026 prostate cancer education and awareness campaign starts today and our main message to Manitobans is the importance of early detection,” said Moe Sabourin, co-chair, MRFD.
Over its 18-year history, the event has raised nearly $6 million for prostate cancer research and education in Manitoba, with all proceeds staying in the province. Last year’s ride raised $762,000, presented to researchers at the Genomic Centre for Prostate Cancer Research.
This year’s ride is set for Saturday, May 30. Motorcycle riders will take off from Earls Polo Park, with a police-escorted parade west along Portage Avenue to the Perimeter Highway before continuing to Selkirk, Gimli, and back for the wind-up event at Cowboys, Canad Inns Windsor Park.
Organizers are emphasizing early detection as the campaign’s central message. Spokesperson and prostate cancer survivor Ed Johner notes that more than 1.2 million Canadian men have prostate cancer and 80 percent are unaware.
“I wouldn’t be here today if I had avoided being tested,” said Johner, in a release. “That’s our message to men and their families — the best way to fight prostate cancer is with early diagnosis.”
2026 MRFD celebrity ride captains are Winnipeg Blue Bomber alumni Adam Bighill, Hamilton Tiger Cats assistant coach Bob Dyce, 92.1 CITI on-air host Poncho Parker, and the Ferguson sisters — Ciel, Téa, Ani and Katrine — Manitoba Motocross champions.
Riders and donors can register at ridefordad.ca/manitoba.
ChrisD.ca is proud to be a returning media sponsor of the 2026 Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad.
