Drew Barili

My 5th DGR!

Sunday 13th Apr 2025

 

This May I will be riding in my 5th! Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, and things will be a little different this year. Not only am I riding with my wonderful partner as pillion and co-pilot, but I have formed a team with Vanity Motorworks (https://www.vanitymotorworks.com/ ) to raise money for some great causes and spread awareness regarding mental health and prostate cancer. Below is a very personal post about why I ride each year. You can read it or skip, either way, please consider donating and if you ride, you should absolutely join us on Sunday, May 18th!

 

Motorcycles have always caught my eye. I remember as a kid, any time a movie had an epic motorcycle scene, I would imagine myself being the rider. I watched motorcycles on the highways and was fascinated by the different cultures and styles around bikes. Motorcycle road trips became a fantasy of mine. Solo-adventuring for miles into new places, connecting with nature, exploring, camping, freedom. But somehow, riding a motorcycle seemed out of reach for most of my life.

 

In the US, nearly 21 million people are affected by depression each year. (Mental Health Associatio https://mhanational.org/conditions/depression/#:~:text=Basic Facts About Depression,of American adults each year.) I personally battled with depression for almost 10 years before I even knew what exactly I was facing. After years of feeling down, sad, hopeless, and even worse, I started to accept that I would never move beyond this feeling.

 

In 2018, when I bought my first Triumph and became fascinated with classic bikes, I found the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride. Despite the joys I had found while riding, i had never thought of riding as a direct way to combat depression and never would have expected there to be a large, multinational,  charity event using motorcycles to support mental health. Every year the DGR helps to remind me that, with the right support and right community, nothing is out of reach. Nothing is beyond our limits. Motorcycles have brought so many forms of support into my life and I hope that The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride and Movember can do that for many others around the world.

I'm Riding for Men's Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

Friday 28th Mar 2025 On Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I'm riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.