Manitoba bikers raise over $500K for prostate cancer research, education
Posted May 30, 2026 4:27 pm.
Last Updated May 31, 2026 10:46 am.
Over 1,500 bikers from across Manitoba gathered in Winnipeg for the 18th annual Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad (MFRD) to raise over $535,000 for prostrate cancer research and education.
Riders started from Earls Polo Park, headed west in a police escorted parade down Portage Avenue to Moray Street, then north to Selkirk, Gimli and back. The MRFD culminated with a wind-up celebration at Cowboys, Canad Inns Windsor Park.
Several Manitoba leaders like Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Manitoba Minister of Technology and Innovation Mike Moroz and Winnipeg West MP Doug Eyolfson and Cal Berzuk, CEO, Winnipeg Police Credit Union spoke at the event before the ride.
Established in 2009, the ride has raised over $6.5 million to fight the disease.
Jackson Gordon, an executive at MFRD said, “All the money that we raise goes towards prostate cancer research in Manitoba . So all the money stays here within Manitoba to help save the people that you love.”
For some bikers like Tom and Lynda Fulton, the event was personal having lost their close friend Dennis Furlan to the disease.
“It’s close to home, it’s close to our heart and I want to make sure that he’s good so yeah that’s why we’re here today and we have a good time,” Linda said.
Tom said men should get tested because of how widespread the disease.
“I don’t think there is hardly anybody I know and anybody that anybody knows that hasn’t lost somebody to prostate cancer,” said Tom said.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in Canada and it’s the second leading cause in death from cancer in men.
They lost their close friend Dennis Furlan whom they honour every ride with “Harley pig” — a stuffed pig that is dressed like a biker on the back of a motorcycle.
Biker Scott McArthur participated in the ride in a stormtrooper motorcycle suit, fusing fight against cancer with his passion for Star Wars.
“I think men historically tend to avoid going to a doctor and I think they should when they’re feeling not right, that’s sort of the mantra of men right. ignore it till it’s too far gone right. but in this case, the sooner you get there the better,” McArthur said.
