Bikies Raise $60,000 for Cancer

The pain of Breast Cancer upon women was epitomised in the emotional strain etched on Girls-Ride-Out motorcycle club President Susan Tate’s face as she retreats to the rear of the stage at the Sydney Pink Ribbon Motorcycle Ride on Sunday 23rd October.

Susan had just done what few could ever dream of achieving. She had just delivered an incredibly heartfelt speech, bringing Sydney’s Mean Fiddler Tavern’s Woolshed auditorium packed to capacity with bikers, to not just a point of silence, but where emotion flowed in the eyes of almost everyone present.

‘Girls Ride Out’ motorcycle club drew upwards of 1000 motorbikes and near 1500 riders to the Mean Fiddler Tavern in western Sydney on Sunday for the cause of breast cancer, raising $60,000.

With the famous woolshed bar jammed with returned riders pumped from the charity run, GRO President Susan Tate delivered the welcome speech which not only silenced the burly bikies, but brought a tear, not just to her eyes - but to almost every one of the hundreds she faced.

Yet there was no doubt the day was stolen by the men and women who went all out to bring pink to the party.  When charity calls this crowd answered with colour, flare and very deep pockets.  Clubs such as the Ulysses along with every other style of rider delivered thousands of dollars for Cancer research.

The tavern’s car-park packed with every conceivable make of motorbike was a sea of pink, from vests to tutus to top hats and many a fake pair of breasts.  One rider had travelled 500 kilometres to support the cause.

To give is an Australian way of life and this came well to the fore when the road-scooter major prize for the charity - valued at $2,500 - was drawn. Winner Dave Skelton accepted his prize on stage and after telling the crowd he would probably break the thing, decided he would return it to the supplier, pledging to donate whatever the refunded dollars were, to the charity.  

Major sponsor for the GRO pink ribbon day Harley Davidson, again proved corporate largess was still alive donating prizes along with cheques for best male and female costumes.

Celebrities such as Larry Emdur and Salvatore Coco were amongst the throng of charity supporters, yet none more famous than Bundy the star of Ted and Bundy charity fund raisers. Bundy, a motorcycle riding dog of much fame, has more than 500,000 kilometres beneath his canine paws and over $400,000 raised for charities to his credit.

Author Duane Langley.

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