Loulé’s Mar Shopping Algarve has joined this year’s ‘Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’, an international motorcycle fundraising event organised annually to raise awareness of prostate cancer and male suicide prevention.
Since September 15, the shopping centre has been hosting a series of events under the motto ‘Prevent it like a gentleman’ to show its support for the initiative, including a photography exhibition as well as a classic motorbike exhibition which can be visited until Sunday, September 30.
These events have been attracting many people to the shopping centre, according to organisers.
Sunday will also be the day that the thousands of motorcycle riders who have embarked on the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride will be stopping at the shopping centre in a bid to raise money for their cause and raise awareness about male health.
In fact, anyone interested will be able to carry out a free prostate cancer screening at the event until October 14. The screening needs to be scheduled beforehand however, and everyone is encouraged to provide a donation towards the cause in exchange.
The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride was held for the first time in 2012 in Australia, with 2,500 riders participating in rides across 64 cities.
The number has been growing every year and last year’s event saw around 93,000 people taking part across 92 countries and raising over $4.8 million (€4.1 million).
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was founded in Sydney, Australia by Mark Hawwa and was inspired by a photo of “Mad Men’s Don Draper, sitting atop a classic bike and wearing his finest suit”.
Mark decided a themed ride would be “a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of motorcyclists, while connecting niche global motorcycle communities together”.
“Our focus is on gentlemen who have been dealt a tough hand in life. In particular, we raise funds for research into prostate cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention programmes, as part of our mission to support men’s health globally,” organisers say on the initiative’s website
