In 2018, I learned about The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride. My friends had all participated for years, donning their finest attire and riding en masse around the city. As a project manager, I figured I could help plan the event. So, I asked the organizers if they could use a hand. But it wasn’t until I was inducted into the NYC organizing committee that I understood the gravity of this incredible event.
DGR isn’t a costume parade or an excuse to shut down the city so we can ride unperturbed. This charity event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars every year and opens people’s eyes to the effects of prostate cancer and men’s mental health - both on the afflicted, and on their friends and families.
Last year, I organized and rode in DGR to honor my grandfathers, both of whom died of cancer. This year, I am riding in honor of my cousin, Patrick. Patrick suffered from depression for most of his life. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 39, and it was a terrible blow to my family and me. I am riding this year in his memory, and to show that men’s health issues do not just affect the men who suffer from them; rather, they affect all of us in some way or another.
I am humbled that DGR has given me the opportunity to honor my family in a unique way. I hope that everyone who takes part in this ride reflects on how these issues affect them and the world around them, or how lucky they are if they have not felt the impact. Thank you, DGR and Movember, for helping take care of all of us.
