Around €11,300 was raised in the Algarve for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, an international motorcycle fundraising event organised annually to raise awareness about prostate cancer and male suicide. The sum was the highest out of any region in Portugal.
The ride included a stop at Loulé’s Mar Shopping Algarve on Sunday (September 30), where over 300 participants, all elegantly dressed, arrived on their bikes to support the initiative.
In fact, 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.
Free prostate cancer testing is still available at the shopping centre (until October 14), but appointments need to be scheduled beforehand. Everyone is encouraged to provide a donation towards the cause in exchange.
Herman Gewert, MAR Shopping Algarve’s general manager, said: “We feel great admiration for this cause. When we considered supporting this year’s event, we knew we wanted to do so in a very active way and be more than just a stopping point.
“We are very proud to be part of such a noble cause which still faces a lack of knowledge and prejudice.”
The Distinguished Gentleman’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”.
