The Long Ride coming into Esperance on the Great Ocean Drive. Photos: The Long Ride.
People attending the Esperance Show on Saturday afternoon can see bikers from Queensland, NSW, Victoria, SA and WA, all due to arrive at the Showgrounds at the end of an event known as The Long Ride.
Founder Chris Dunne said this would be the group’s third Esperance visit.
“We have been doing this now for 19 years and I believe it’s 14 events,” he said.
“We come from all states, and this year we are going to all come together at Port Augusta and meet the WA riders at Norseman.
Mr Dunne said the latter group, who will have ridden in from Perth via Kalgoorlie, are to make up the total contingent of 185 riders plus six vehicles with wives, girlfriends and family members.
“Also one chap has come all the way from England just to do the ride,” he said.
“He starts from three streets up from me in Sydney.”
So why do 185 riders cross the continent each year? Mr Dunne explained.
“At one stage I was in a bad place and I said to my son one night at 2am ‘I am going to ride to Darwin tomorrow just for the hell of it’.
“He said: ‘instead of doing it alone and hung over, why not get it on the internet and take some people with you?’.
“By the time we started I was riding with 225 strangers and we got to Longreach and someone said ‘what are you doing it for RFDS for why not for prostate cancer?’.
“So that is how this part of it was born, not knowing my own body.”
Organisers say riders participate in this charity event for many reasons.
“The main reason is to help make a difference in their lives and the lives of others by joining in this event structured to raise awareness of prostate cancer in all communities,” they say.
“Previous riders will tell you that the ride has changed them in many ways.
“You quickly come to realise that whatever is troubling you, others have the same problem, and you realise, you are not alone.
“This ride will enable you to overcome many personal issues, make new friends, and make a difference in your community and help others Nationally to save the lives of people you do not know.”
Mr Dunne is more specific.
“If we can get one man to get to the doctor to get a check for prostate cancer because of the ride we are happy,” he said.
The riders are due to arrive at Esperance Showgrounds at 1pm on Saturday October 18.
