Hundreds of vintage motorcyclists ride though London in charity fundraiser
From Panama to Paris, over 125,000 men and women donned their smartest vintage attire and hopped on their classic motorcycles to take part in the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a fundraiser for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health initiatives.
Some 10,000 riders are taking to the streets across the UK, braving the rain to take to the streets of cities including Oxford, Bristol and Manchester. In London, some wore goggles, brogues and tweet suits.
The ride’s style guide specifies riders should look “dapper,” mimicking “the classic lines of Don Draper’s 1957 Matchless G3LS.” Vintage bikes, including choppers, scooters and side cars, were all encouraged and some riders brought pets dressed in vintage gear.
Since its first outing in Sydney in 2012, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has spread to over 700 cities in 110 countries. The event has raised over £15m for men’s health, and organisers hope donations will reach £5.7m in 2019.
"We are in awe that The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has become the biggest motorcycle fundraising event in the world,” said founder Mark Hawwa. “We stand united behind our cause to stop men dying too young.” Their charity partner is Movember, the similarly vintage-inspired organisation which encourages men to grow moustaches in November to raise money for men’s charities.
