The Long Ride for Dad

The Long Ride for Dad is a solo motorcycle journey that began in August 2015. The trip officially started in Montreal, Quebec and stopped in Vancouver, BC before turning south to eventually end in Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city in South America). The entire trip will cover a distance of over 30,000 kilometres, passing through 15 different countries along the way. The main goal of Long Ride is to raise awareness and much needed funding for kidney cancer research and treatment.

My personal experience with kidney cancer is the driving catalyst behind this journey. In July of 2012 I lost my father Kevin to kidney cancer at the age of 52. He was diagnosed in May of 2010 and fought valiantly against the illness for over two years. This trip is ultimately in his memory but it is also on behalf of anyone past or present that has been affected by kidney cancer.

Approximately 6,000 Canadians were diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2014. Kidney cancer rates continue to increase each year and there is currently no screening or early detection test available. Almost one quarter of newly diagnosed patients learn that their cancer has already spread to other parts of their body. Funding for kidney cancer research and treatment lags far behind that of many other forms of the disease like breast, prostate and colon.

The Long Ride for Dad has the support of Kidney Cancer Canada (KCC). KCC is the first and only patient led kidney cancer charity organization in Canada and all proceeds raised over the course of this trip will go to them. KCC will then direct the proceeds to various sources for the purposes of research as well as treatment for current kidney cancer patients, advocacy for access to new treatments, support, information and education.

I have launched this page as the primary source of fundraising during the course of the Long Ride campaign. I chose to begin fundraising in March in order to correspond with kidney cancer awareness month. All donations made through the website are tax deductible and go directly to KCC. There is a Long Ride Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/longridefordad) where one can find updates on the campaign as well as a place for anyone to share their own stories and experiences with cancer. Personal donations (please email longridefordad@gmail.com) will also be accepted to cover expenses on the trip including food, gas, lodging, maintenance, etc.

Ultimately this trip is just one part of a much larger campaign to raise much needed funding for kidney cancer research while working towards the goal of finding a cure. Take a moment to follow the Facebook page and spread the word to as many people as possible as increased attention is the most valuable way of raising funds for this very worthy cause. Please join me in the fight against kidney cancer.

Tim Charman (The Long Ride for Dad)