Oakey has been riding with his master for more than three years and now he’s off to Esperance in WA, all for a good cause.
When Darryl Palin of Rutherglen first joined The Long Ride in 2019, it fulfilled a dream to ride a motorbike all the way to Darwin in search of a long-lost mate.
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Sadly, the news awaiting him in Darwin was not what he had hoped, discovering his friend had passed away more than 10 years earlier.
Since that first ride, Darryl and his wife Caroline have been regular riders in The Long Ride events, held every 18 months and traveling to a different Australian destination each time.
This year they’re riding to Esperance in Western Australia.
Darryl’s story is not a solitary one, as he is joined each ride by hundreds of riders from across Australia, each with their own personal reason for riding, but all motivated by a common goal: supporting prostate cancer awareness.
“Anyone with a motorbike is welcome to join,” Darryl said.
“It’s just such a great experience traveling around this country and sharing it with other people who have common interests: bikes and raising prostate cancer awareness.”
Darryl doesn’t have prostate cancer, but he’s motivated by that, and the understanding that he can do plenty to help the cause.
“It’s important to understand that you don’t have to have prostate cancer to get involved,” he said.
“I have a lot of friends impacted by prostate cancer, but it takes all of us to raise enough awareness about this disease to make a difference.
“I first got tested when I was 40, and I’m back every year to see my doctor and get tested again.
“You may have to pay but is your life worth more than $58.”
Darryl’s involvement is not limited just to riding.
In this year’s event, which departed Rutherglen last week, he’ll be organising the auctions and raffles at each nightly stop to raise much needed funds.
Darryl Palin with Long Ride organisers Andee Lanagan and Andy Holman.
Event organisers Andee Lanagan, from ACT, and Victorian, Andy Holman revel in the variety and the sense of community.
Andee first joined The Long Ride in 2017 and said everyone rides for their own reasons.
“For some it’s all about wearing the leathers,” she said.
“I took the opportunity to work as a prostate cancer nurse for a couple of years and ended up joining in my first ride.”
Andy Holman is a prostate cancer survivor and has been involved in The Long Ride since 2013.
“It gives me a chance to practice what I preach,” he said.
“Now I don’t miss an event; I was unable to ride for the last one, so I did it in a car.
“The moment you catch up with everyone it’s like you’ve never been apart.”
Jeff Dobell and Oakey prepare for their first Long Ride.
For Jeff Dobell and his Queensland heeler, Oakey, from Ballarat, it’s their first Long Ride, although Oakey has been riding with Jeff for more than three years now.
Jeff also doesn’t have cancer but has friends who have been impacted so he decided to join this year.
“A friend of mine did it last year,” Jeff said.
“Oakey loves riding the bike; if he thinks he’s going on a ride he gets very excited.”
The Long Ride would like to thank Big 4, Poachers, Caffeine Machine, Rutherglen Hardware, the local wineries, and the Rutherglen community for their support towards this year’s event.
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