REPORT - 2021 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
Words and Photos: Courtesy of Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride – the Aussie event that went global – celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2021 and also celebrated a fundraising milestone.
This year’s event raised US$4.1 million for men’s health charity Movember, taking the overall fundraising total from the past decade to an incredible US$31.5 million (AU$41.48M approx.).
Doing Good with - and for - Motorcyclists
This year, all funds raised have been donated directly to The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’s global charity partner, Movember.
Movember is the leading global organisation focussed solely on men’s health, with funds from The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) directed toward prostate cancer and men’s mental health research and programmes.
Together, Movember and DGR have worked strategically to help men in motorcycling live happier and healthier lives; so much so that they have allocated AU$1.15M to pilot and deliver programmes specifically directed at improving social connectedness, life satisfaction and mental wellbeing for motorcycle riders.
New . . . and Familiar
While the date for the DGR was new this year – Sunday, 23 May – the enthusiasm amongst riders around the world was unchanged.
Despite COVID-19 still impacting events and public gatherings, more than 65,000 riders in 913 cities and 116 countries around the world signed up to dress dapper and ride their classic and classically-styled motorcycles.
From Auckland to Madrid, Hanoi to Hobart and São Paulo to Sydney, the passion was palpable and the fashion impeccable, as gentlefolk (despite the event name, ladies are welcome and have become a growing part of the DGR) dressed to impress and rode to raise revenue for men’s health.
“After 10 years of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, I still find myself in awe and wonder of the dedication of our incredible gentlefolk around the world,” said DGR Founder and Director, Mark Hawwa.
“To make it through 10 years, raising over US$31.5M toward men’s health and connecting literally hundreds of thousands of like-minded motorcyclists together - it’s unfathomable.
“I’m particularly proud of all our devoted ride hosts and their teams who work so hard to bring these rides to each and every city around the world, and I’m grateful to everyone who has shared their stories with us over the years.
“Behind the impeccably dressed riders are stories linking them to prostate cancer and men’s mental health, and only through the efforts of Movember are we able to make a difference to the lives of men living with and beyond these cause areas.”
To register your interest in DGR 2022, view the research programmes that are funded and support the wonderful work the DGR does, head over to: gentlemansride.com
Ultimate Prize
For its 10th Anniversary, the DGR’s major partners, which include Hedon helmets, SKRAM and Belstaff, continued their support, but Triumph really stepped up, offering four new motorcycles, including three for the top three fundraisers and a Thruxton RS with bespoke paint and detailing for the winner of the “Gentlefolk Competition”.
The Gentlefolk Competition was designed to give all DGR entrants the chance at a sweet new ride, provided they met a few basic criteria by unlocking specific badges on their ‘rider dashboard’. Along with the 2021 DGR Commemorative Prize Patch, eligible riders received a single entry into the competition to win the DGR x Thruxton RS.
Already a desirable ride, the prize Thruxton RS was made even moreso with the addition of special paint and decals, completed by hand in the paint shop of Triumph’s Hinckley factory.
The lucky winner of the 1-of-1 DGR x Thruxton RS was Steven Simqu of Pittsburgh, USA.
