Roll out!

With his wife at his side, Chris Kari-Halwachs rode in memory of his parents at a cancer fundraiser.

Bikers revved their engines at the 10th Bell Motorcycle Ride for Dad on Saturday. More than 300 bikes, choppers and roadsters peeled out of the Keg parking lot in support of prostate cancer research in Northwestern Ontario.

Kari-Halwachs started riding a motorcycle about two years ago when his wife, Helen, wanted him to try it. It was his first time riding in the Ride for Dad parade and said he was glad to participate.

Kari-Halwachs lost his mother to cancer about a year ago and his father-in-law three years ago. He said he wanted to ride in this year’s event in memory of them.

"It’s very important to participate in these fundraisers," Kari-Halwachs said. "I feel anybody that goes out and supports the cancer society is fantastic because we need the help."

Tere McDonald, chair of Ride for Dad, said the small little fundraiser had grown exceptionally large over the years. He said on average, the fundraising event use to raise about $15,000 but expected to bring to total amount raised to more than $500,000 this year.

Most of the bikers who rode at the event were in their 50s and at a time in their lives to check for prostate cancer, he said.

"Prostate cancer was a backroom discussion and now it has moved to the forefront where men are not afraid to talk about it," McDonald said.

Despite the success of the event, McDonald said like golf tournaments, keeping the event to once a year kept people from becoming fatigued.

"I think we’d exhaust some of our participants if we tried to hold it more often," he said.

Michael Pedri, special events officer with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, said prostate cancer statistics in Northwestern Ontario has increased because of poor lifestyles and eating habits.

"A healthy lifestyle and exercising are big factors in prevention," Pedri said. "Also go to your family doctor and go for the regular check ups and don’t be embarrassed by getting a prostate examine. The soon that you get checked and the sooner that you know the more preventative measures you can take."