If you were looking to find a parking spot at the Gold Eagle Lodge or Gold Ridge Centre Saturday, you were likely out of luck, but for good reason and a good cause.
The parking lot was filled with 553 motorcycle riders, as the annual Ride for Dad event finished the Saskatchewan tour in North Battleford.
The Gold Ridge Centre hosted the more than 550 registered bikers for the banquet and awards portion of this year's ride, along with supper and entertainment.
Bikers from across Saskatchewan gathered pledges in an effort to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men and one of the most common causes of death from cancer in men. Approximately 25,000 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in Canada last year and nearly 900 of those cases were in Saskatchewan.
In total, $155,621 was raised in pledges from the 2012 event. Last year, the Saskatoon Chapter and riders from across Saskatchewan raised $130,614, as 356 registered riders participated. This was the fourth year of Ride for Dad in Saskatchewan.
Since the first Ride for Dad in 2000, more than $9 million has been donated to prostate cancer research and awareness. Ride for Dad started in Ottawa with 80 riders and now incorporates 30 cities across Canada as more than 100,000 riders and supporters have helped in the battle against prostate cancer.
The riders' parade began in Saskatoon at 10:45 a.m. and eventually made stops in Blaine Lake, Hafford and finally North Battleford.
At the banquet in North Battleford, Don Sapsford of Perdue was presented with the award for top fundraiser in Saskatchewan winning a Westjet prize package after raising $14,162.15. David Jessiman of Lucky Lake and Larry Bleile of Biggar were second and third among the top fundraisers with $10,885 and $9,177.50 respectfully. The top team fundraising group was against Team Fury from Saskatoon.
Len Jeffries also spoke to the crowd of his personal experience with prostate cancer and Bob Leslie, a award winning entertainer and comedian, also took to the stage.
