While many people flocked to North Battleford for Northwest Territorial Days, another group of people were in the Battlefords for another reason Aug. 20.
The Motorcycle Ride for Dad's 10th anniversary Cross Canada Tour passed through the Battlefords with a stop at Mark's Work Wearhouse where they were greeted by Della McNally and her staff, an M & M Meats barbecue, other locals interested in the cause and Wayne Rostad - national ride marshall and entertainer for the tour.
The reason for the tour is to raise money and awareness of prostate cancer and for the Military Families Fund. Thanks in large part to Evelyn Bull and her husband Glen Skarra, who were honoray vanguard riders, the tour was able to stop in North Battleford.
Over decade, more than $5 million has been raised during the tour, explained Rostad as the crowd anticipated the riders' arrival.
As the crowd heard the motorcycles roar from a short distance away, the excitement increased and, once the riders were led in by national ride captain Byron Smith and the bikes were stopped, Smith and others took to the stage to explain why they were doing this tour and thanked everyone for their support.
Smith and Garry Janz, the national president, spoke to the crowd about the importance of getting checked for prostate cancer and explained the message is simple, "early detection save lives."
Smith commented on the turnout of over 100 people and said the reception from the Battlefords was great. During the ride, which started in St. John's, Nfld Aug. 1, they have ridden with anywhere from 15 to 700 riders and occasionally they have been the only ones in the parking lots they were scheduled to stop at along the way.
Janz explained that if prostate cancer is caught early, there is a 96 per cent success rate, but due to the lack of knowledge 12 Canadian men a day die from the disease. "We are about fighting a disease that rips families apart," he added.
He finished his speech with a loud, booming voice, "There is no need to die from it. You've been told!"
Who better to drive home that point, than a prostate cancer survivor. Del Miller told of his story. At 43 he had what he thought would be a routine medical for a class-three drivers license.
Before leaving the doctor's office, he received a PSA exam and later was sent to a urologist.
Miller was told he had less than a year to live and should get his affairs in order because it was too late for prostate surgery and the only treatment he would receive was radiation and they would attempt to burn it.
That was nearly 10 years ago and Miller is now cancer free.
"There is hope when we have research," said Miller, who admits to being naive about prostate cancer and the pre-cautions and tests available.
Both mayors also spoke at the gathering, with Mayor Ian Hamilton commenting on how prostate cancer research is "near and dear" to his heart as his father-in-law died of prostate cancer.
Mayor Chris Odishaw passed on the message that prostate cancer effects many men and they can't find help if they simply aren't aware they should be checked out.
McNally had the final word on the stage and, after thanking the riders for passing through the Battlefords, she presented Smith, Janz and Rostad with $1,200 from the barbecue.
A blog was created to help follow the tour as they headed for Victoria, B.C. planning to complete the tour Sunday. This was posted about their stop in the Battlefords: "This is a very small town, but they went all out and arranged a barbecue, had lots of people attending and had gifts for crew members of the tour.Speeches were given by both the mayor of Battleford and North Battleford as well as a prostate cancer survivor.Congratulations to the (city) of North Battleford in a job well done, getting the word out and raising funds for our cause."
