Motorcycle Divas show their support for the men in their lives with fundraising calendar

They love motorcycles and the open road. 

And every year, a group of women continue to come together to show their love for the men in their lives.

The Diva Riding Society of Canada is selling their annual fundraising calendar, with all proceeds going to help fund prostate cancer research and awareness. 

“We want our men healthy and to be with us forever. We love them and we want to get the word out, so they know how important is to get tested early,” said Sarah Dunbar, a member of the society.

“It’s for the men in our lives. That’s our slogan. We need to support them.”

For Dunbar and her fellow Divas, its about starting the conversation. 

“Prostate cancer just isn’t talked about enough. We want to open the conversation,” Dunbar says.

The Diva Riding Society of Canada, a non-profit organization, has a mission to reach out to women of all ages, to encourage them to realize their own worth and to help empower them.

Members continue to be involved in charitable causes, to pass on a legacy of sisterhood, not only on the open road, but to help improve the lives of men, women and children. 

And the calendar, for another year, will continue to help promote the health and wellbeing of the men in their lives. 

“The Prostate Cancer calendar keeps us all busy until it’s printed and approved by Prostate Cancer Canada. It’s an exciting time for the three months that it takes us. We brainstorm which cars, which bikes and where we will shoot the picture. Everyone is a volunteer,” says Danielle Stockley, founder and director of the Diva Riding Society of Canada. 

“It’s a grassroots project that takes us anywhere and everywhere. Prostate cancer is an important issue. We all have men in our lives. Our goal is to reach as many men as possible through the calendar. Our ladies are such a strong group of individuals and they go out and sell them yearly.’

For Dunbar, who resides in Drayton, being featured in the calendar has personal meaning. 

“In our group, most of the women have had a man in their life who has been affected by prostate cancer in some way. For me, it means so much because my grandfather passed away with prostate cancer, so, it really hits home for me,” Dunbar said. 

“In actual fact, more men die of prostate cancer than women with breast cancer and we as women all have men in our lives so we thought this would be a great cause, one that just isn’t talked about as much.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men. One in seven men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer can be slow-growing and some men who develop prostate cancer may live many years without ever having the cancer detected. 

It is important to get screened regularly. A significant proportion of prostate cancers, if untreated, may have serious consequences.

“This just needs to be talked about, especially for men between 40 and 50-years old. Many men find out they have it and it’s too late. It’s just a simple blood test to find out if you have it. It’s so easy,” Dunbar said. 

Dunbar has been involved with the calendar fundraising for about five years. 

“We are connected with a women’s biker group in the U.S. who made a calendar for breast cancer, so we thought what a great idea this would be and we are hoping to continue and make it an annual thing” she said. 

“All funds raised go right to Prostate Cancer Canada.”

Prostate Cancer Canada is the leading national foundation dedicated to the elimination of the most common cancer in men through research, advocacy, education, support and awareness.

Dunbar, along with her fellow divas, sell the prostate cancer calendars for $10. 

“My husband is so supportive. He also works with motorcycles, so he thinks it’s phenomenal. He supports and sells the calendars too,” Dunbar said. 

“And my mom too is especially supportive because my grandfather passed away from prostate cancer.”

Stockley says the calendar encompasses Bowmanville, Blackstock, Oshawa, Stouffville, Brampton, Drayton, Rothsay and Toronto. 

“I am so proud of them. I am very proud to be a part of the team, our phenomenal ladies, the three photographers, our designer and our families who work their schedule around the shoots. This year, we had a motorcycle shop who jumped on board and that was a really great team to work with,” Stockley said. 

The Diva Riding Society is dedicated to getting the word out. 

“The men in our live are always there for us, we need to be there for them too,” Dunbar said.

“Even if we as women talk about it, at least we are helping raise awareness and keeping the conversation going.”

For anyone wanting to purchase a 2020/21 Diva Riding Society of Canada Prostate Cancer calendar, visit here.