If you spotted an unusual number of dapperly dressed men and women out on classic and vintage motorcycles (what we noobs like to refer to generically as “handsome bikes”) riding about Metro Manila last Sunday, 23 May, you should know that that wasn’t just local biker gangs deciding to dress up for Sunday Mass.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is an international effort to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, and the Philippines is one of 107 countries around the world participating in the annual tradition.
Distinguished Gentleman’s Rides began in Sydney, Australia in 2011 — this was supposed to be its tenth year — founded by distiguished gentleman Mark Hawwa, who saw a shoot in GQ with Mad Men actor Jon Hamm dressed in a crisp suit and astride a motorcycle. What better way to get motorcycle enthusiasts together to support men’s health than to have them come out and try to out-dapper Dapper Don Draper?
Since the Distinguished Gentleman’s Rides began fundraising in 2016, participants have raised over US$18.2 million for various organizations devoted to men’s health and cancer research.
This year’s rides had to be modified in light of the differing lockdown levels due to the pandemic. While a few countries were able to proceed with the normal group ride, riders for DGR Manila agreed to do solo rides and small group rides. Manila’s final tally: 1239 riders, nearly $5000 in pledges, and zero barriers to ruin the aesthetic. (You can still pledge!).
Elsewhere in the Philippines, riders from 14 other cities also signed up for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Countries that participated included Southeast Asian neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos (we see you, two riders from Vientiane).
And in case you don’t live near a DGR route, here are some of the most dapper fundraising riders we spotted at last Sunday’s ride:
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