More than 1,800 motorcyclists, dressed as “gentlemen” and mounted on classic and vintage machines, gathered around the Law School of the University of Buenos Aires with the aim of raising funds for research and creating awareness about the prostate cancer and the mental health in men.
The meeting, called “The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride”is an annual international charity event that brings together classic and vintage-style motorcycles alongside motorcyclists in gala attire, organizers said.
The motorcycles circulated around the River Plate stadium, in Núñez, the neighborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta and the Obelisco, Costanera Sur and Plaza de Mayo areas.
This activity, which began in the Australian city of Sydney, has been carried out in the country since 2014.
The event has a style guide, they are “gentlemen who ride their Cafe’ Racer, Bobber, Classic, Tracker, Scrambler, Old School Chopper, Modern Classic, Sidecar, Classic Vespa or Brat Styled motorcycles to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs.
In addition to participating in the parade, those interested in supporting prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs donations through the event website.
All funds raised will go to the Movember Foundation, one of the world’s largest men’s health charities.
In addition to being held in the city of Buenos Aires, it is held simultaneously in other cities such as Mar del Plata, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Salta, Corrientes, Neuquén, San Miguel de Tucumán, San Salvador de Jujuy, Colón (Entre Ríos ), Villa María (Córdoba), Villa Mercedes (San Luis) and Tres Arroyos (province of Buenos Aires).
In the country, the event summoned 1,808 participants in Buenos Aires, 347 in Mar del Plata, 322 in Salta, 329 in Mendoza, 200 in Rosario, 190 in Córdoba, 177 in Neuquén, according to the site. https://www.gentlemansride.com/.
According to that source, almost 23,000 dollars have been collected so far in Argentina.
The activity began at 8:30 am, when the first motorcycle caravans arrived.
Some drivers wore black gala suits and beige berets as was used in the 1930s.
The most representative members of the “Gentleman Riders” organization wore a blue ribbon on their arm.
Walter, a 65-year-old motorcyclist from the Buenos Aires city of Wilde, arrived with a 1980 Zanella pedal motorcycle.
“Dressing ourselves this way allows us not only to make our cause visible, but also to bring out a certain social prejudice towards us, which in many cases classifies us as bad guys,” he remarked.
Sebastián and Agustín, two brothers from the neighborhood of Caballito, began their love of motorcycles in their childhood thanks to the influence of their father.
“My first trip was when I was four years old and a lifelong love was born there,” said Sebastian, whose blue suit matched the color of his 1995 Honda motorcycle.
For his part, Agustín highlighted in dialogue with Télam that “motorcycles are a lifestyle” and thanks to that I traveled all over the country and met my partner”.
“I can’t imagine my life without the motorcycle, it is an extension of my body,” he emphasized.
At 10, the organizer of the event, Fernando Marsán, summoned all the participants to meet on the steps of the Faculty of Law of the UBA.
Marsán stressed that the call “is very important after two years of pandemic” and stated that the activity aims to make visible “the importance of mental health and care to prevent prostate cancer.”
“Prostate cancer is a disease that is rarely talked about and is something frequent that many men suffer from,” Juan Pablo Sade, an oncologist at the Fleming Sanatorium, told this agency.
Marsán told Télam that once the 30-kilometre crossing is over, “they will raise their helmets looking up at the sky in memory of the deceased members of the group.”
In a matter of minutes, Thousands of motorcycles left Figueroa Alcorta Avenue to begin their journey through CABA.
At 11 o’clock, the traffic personnel of the City of Buenos Aires, enabled the circulation of vehicles on Figueroa Alcorta avenue, despite the fact that some lagged motorcyclists remained in the place.
