Tuesday, August 9, 2016

The 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

This is exciting. Don't believe me? Would I stretch the truth? See for yourself. I've added some amazingly cool videos at the end of this post.

It promises to be a brand new experience for me. The exact opposite of riding with all the gear, all the time. Well, not the exact opposite, because the exact opposite would be to do that whole Lady Godiva thing, and well you didn't think I'd be up for that, did you?

Please read on. Your curiosity will be rewarded. This is another kind of 'evergreen' post that I continue to update until I post a follow up post once the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride enters the record books.

https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/davidmasseorg

https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/davidmasseorgI applied, and have been accepted, as a participant in the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.

You may regret reading this, because the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride is a fund raiser to fund research into prostate cancer. That means I will be campaigning for moola, your moola.1

I promise it won't be too painful.

Every little bit helps, and every little bit counts.

I've given myself a modest target to raise $500. My objective is to way overachieve that meager goal. Bear in mind that I have to give myself room to achieve bigger targets in future years.

 Here is a link to my fundraising page. With your help we'll make a little dent in the fight to cure prostate cancer. Contributions to my ride are tax deductible in Canada. The proceeds raised by the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride go the Movember Foundation which will issue Canadian tax receipts to donors.

Here is a running account of my progess: On Sunday evening, on day two of my campaign to raise funds for this worthy cause, I  reached $736 in sponsorship!! I just can't believe the generosity of my sponsors. I am deeply pleased, and truly humbled. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And it gets better and better. I am truly blessed. End of day 4 (Tuesday, August 16) and the $1,278 raised at this point puts me in second place in the Toronto ride. Awesome. And I know, just know, that there is more to come! End of day 5 results: still second in the Toronto ride with $1,318 raised in sponsorships, and now 39th in the global rankings; Not too shabby! The final tally is near: $1,768 raised and I think that I have reached the end of the fund raising road. I more than tripled my modest goal and so far am ranked second in the Toronto ride, and that's something to be proud of. But wait... there is more to come: Generous donations from my stepmother, my cousin, and my son Jonathan and his charming wife Vicky, and my daughter Lauren and her dapper fiancĂ© Harris have propelled me well over the two thousand dollar hurdle and kept me in the running among the top 100 global fundraisers, for now, because the friendly competition is steep. Stay tuned, there are more contributions coming as the campaign shifts into higher gear! September 9, with 14 days to go: I got my 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride official patch along with a letter thanking me for my efforts to date. That means I've got some sewing to do. September 10, 13 days to go: More amazing sponsorships came rolling in, blowing me away once more. Your generosity is truly inspiring. Today my total sponsorship became quintuple my original goal. It's hard to believe. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! Your generosity placed me in 30th position among fundraisers worldwide. That is an amazing accomplishment! September 13, 10 days to go: It's only three days later and with my sponsorships at $2,852, it seems likely that I will succeed in sextupling (SEXTUPLING!!!) my initial fund raising goal. I am so, so thankful for the generosity of my sponsors. I will soon be at a total loss for words. I'm now worried I just may run out of ways to say thank you. September 19, 4 days to go: I apologize in advance to those in my network who have yet to sponsor me but... yes I am sending out another round to fish for funds. It's a good cause folks and every cent helps. Help me break through that $3,000 ceiling with a crash of cash! Sunday September 25: Today was the day. In the end 277 riders participated and raised well over $60,000 for a great cause. It was a resounding success. We rose too early, rode for the better part of the day, stopped traffic, got waves, had many bystanders taking video as we passed by, drank espresso, enjoyed some BBQ, a little beer, and all around had a great time all while helping a great cause. Thursday October 20: This is my last update on the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. My final tally in the fundraising extravaganza was $2,892 which ranked me 111th in the world which is an amazing accomplishment my generous sponsors can be justly proud of. I fell just a tad short of the top 100 riders which means no designer limited-edition Hedon helmet for me, which is just fine. I have the mat black 3/4 helmet and goggles I bought for the occasion plus the limited edition Ride Dapper patch which will be my personal prize package to myself for an adventure well-lived. In the end 57,574 riders participated in the global rides, raising $3,571,080 for a great cause. That places my fund raising effort in the top quintile of the top 1% of riders world wide. Without my generous sponsors that feat would have been absolutely impossible.

Those of you who are U.S.-based and who wish to contribute, please contribute to my friend Rob Wilson's ride. Rob will be riding in the Tampa edition of the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. The funds contributed to Rob's ride will go to support the same cause and you will a receive a tax receipt that will be deductible for U.S. tax purposes. Here is a link to Rob's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride fundraising page. Contributions to Rob's ride are tax deductible in the U.S. The proceeds raised by the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in the U.S. also go the Movember Foundation which will issue U.S. tax receipts to donors.

I promise to get suitably attired for the ride, maybe some tweed, a vest, certainly a bow tie, maybe a mustache (nah, no time for that), nice wingtips, the whole shebang. There will be pictures. I will wash, wax, polish and detail my Vespa and together we will be extraordinary on the day of the ride.

The route the ride will take looks like this:

As requested by the organizers, I have taken the route map down, 
so please visit the site for additional details on 
this year's ride. Click here.

Now that the ride is in the history books, here is that route map:


EPILOGUE: On September 25th,  57,574 riders participated in this year's ride worldwide, and 285 riders rode in the Toronto ride, raising $3.6 million to help find a cure and fund treatment for prostate cancer. A stunning success!!

I am truly excited.

I plan to update this page as often as I can so that you can see how I am making out with my objective. Please stay tuned.



https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/davidmasseorg

Here are a few great videos of past Rides in...

Sydney


Melbourne


London


New York


Bordeaux


Paris


Los Angeles


Milan


and again MILANO!!


and finally... Barcelona


Impossible for me to get enough of this!!!!

----------------------

1. Bread, bucks, cabbage, cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, fivers, gold, green, jack, kale, legal tender, lira, lolly, long green, loonies, loot, lucre, money, needful, pelf, quid, samolians, sawbucks, scratch, shekels, tender, toonies, or wampum.

55 comments:

Unknown said...

Awesome to see! Can you please keep the ride route offline, We like people to register to view the details to ensure our best shot at fundraising as well as help with our insurance of the event. - Cheers, DGR Team.

David Masse said...

I am happy to oblige.

Thank you for this excellent initiative. Here's hoping that the fundraising objectives are more than achieved.

redlegsrides said...

The 2016 Lady Godiva Ride....I think you may be on to something here David.

David Masse said...

Dom, that's genius! Now it's up to the ladies to follow through. Imagine the fund raising potential! Yuge, just yuge!

David Masse said...

A very special thank you to Conchscooter, my very first sponsor, who remarked with his signature British wit "I'd like to say fear of prostate cancer is close to my heart but its more fundamental than that..."

VStar Lady said...

David you don't show up (at present) on their official site as a rider ... please check this out.

David Masse said...

Karen the ride's web site is a little sluggish. I now show up on page two of the Toronto ride. All's well.

Thanks for the heads' up, much appreciated :)

Unknown said...

Awareness is just as important! Hopefully more men get checked!

len@RE-GLAZE-IT said...

Hi Dave, Great idea mate and some good fun too.....You have a little backing from me:)

Regards
LEN

David Masse said...

Len thank you! I really and truly appreciate your support, not to mention your call to action! So far the Brits lead the way :)

David Masse said...

A great big thank you to Richard Machida for his sponsorship.

Richard asks "Is the Vespa vintage or is it just the rider?"

Well Richard let's see. Vespa: 2010; Rider: 1952. Just the rider I'm afraid :)

David Masse said...

Thank you as well to Ry Austin who has added his shoulder to the wheel as another early supporter helping me help others in this worthy endeavour. Bravo Mr. Austin!

The City Mouse in the Country said...

Well David your post inspired me to finally put my dickey out in public. I'm taking part in the Tampa ride. I have a feeling your going to raise a bit more than me...but I think I'll be better dressed. :)

David Masse said...

I will gladly sponsor you, but no way are you prettier than me!

Send me a link to your fundraising page as soon as it's up :)

The City Mouse in the Country said...

I appreciate the offer but you don't have to do that. You have to remember that I'm in the land of Pirates...and they were Dashing in there own right LOL. https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/robwilson

David Masse said...

Too late! I sent you double chai.

David Masse said...

Peter Sanderson gave a very generous donation that propelled my campaign up another level!! Thank you Peter, that blew me away!

The City Mouse in the Country said...

Check out my blog David. I found the perfect vintage tux to wear. :)

David Masse said...

A big big thank you to Cathy Duval my amazing financial planner. Without Cathy I would never have been able to retire. Thank you Cathy for your very generous sponsorship, you rock!

David Masse said...

Nice post Rob!

I am asking potential US nased donors to contribute to your ride rather than mine since they'll get a US tax receipt.

We are now a two man fund raising machine!

David Masse said...

My deep appreciation to my friend and colleague Peter Sharpe for his generous gift supporting this worthy cause. Thank you Peter!

We've made it to a new level once more!!

The City Mouse in the Country said...

I am both humbled and surprised by your email to me earlier today. I am honored to call you "friend."

David Masse said...

Un très grand merci à Benoit Dubé pour sa grande générosité en contribuant à cette campagne de financement dans la lutte contre le cancer! Ton appui est très apprécié.

David Masse said...

Ed Kilner is my moto-guide to the wonders of greater Toronto, and with his generous contribution to my Distinguished Gentleman's Ride he leads way to making the 2016 ride the most successful ride in the ride's history.

David Masse said...

Another big thank you goes out, this time to Janis Riven for her generous support of my participation in the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.

Thank you Janis!!

David Masse said...

Misti Christensen & Jeff Miller just made my evening with a very, very generous donation that I understand will be matched by Misti's employer Nexen Inc. Now that is simply amazing! Wow! Talk about pumped! Thank you Misti and Jeff!

David Masse said...

Mille mercis à Marie Nardo pour son soutien de mon aventure du 25 septembre prochain! C'est très, très apprécié! Merci Marie!

David Masse said...

Special thanks to Mano Pagliaro for his very generous contribution to my Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Mano your contribution puts me within striking distance of doubling my objective today!!! It's truly appreciated.

David Masse said...

A very warm and grateful thank you to Mary Margiotta for supporting my dapper ride to concquer cancer. Mary and I go way, way back and have had each others' backs for as long as I remember.

David Masse said...

Un très, très grand merci à Jean-Michel Lapierre, avocat extraordinaire chez Fasken Martineau pour son don généreux à l'appui de ma campagne de levée de fonds pour vaincre le cancer!

David Masse said...

Dear No. 1 Anonymous, I have no clue who you may be, but you are one very generous and humble person. I thank you so much for supporting me in the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride!

Your kindness and support are sincerely appreciated.

ADK Jim said...

Dave, only getting email and wifi occasionally while on the road. We are enjoying your Pacific Northwest - Banff and all! Glad to support your ride my friend!
Jim

David Masse said...

Jim I truly appreciate your generous donation, especially since you have reached out to me from the Great White North during your epic road trip.

I am planning to take another run at a northern Florida get together with you, Bill, Ken, Rob and the gang sometime this fall, maybe around October.

Safe travels to you and Grace!

David Masse said...

A very special and heartfelt thank you to Bala and Vasi. To say we are looking forward to Andrew and Anuschka's wedding is a severe understatement! Susan and I are so excited!!

We'll be seeing you very soon!

David Masse said...

Time to express my deep appreciation for a very generous donation.

If you asked me twenty years ago whether I'd be thanking Red Wilson for a generous contribution to a motorcycle adventure I'd be taking to raise money for cancer, I'd have thought that the suggestion was so improbable as to be hysterically laughable.

And yet here I am doing that very thing.

There is a lesson in that my friends. Life is truly a wonder to behold.

Thank you Red for your very generous sponsorship that has raised my campaign another level. At $1,278 I am shocked to find myself in second place in the Toronto ride, and 38th place on the global leaderboard, if only for now. It's still very early.

I'll savour the feeling for a moment, while it lasts.

Thank you very much!

David Masse said...

Thank for the e-mail messae revealing your identity. Now that I know who you are your very generous sponsorship means so much more.

I need to find new and better ways to say thank you. This experience is so amazing, I am blessed to be surrounded by such fine people, truly I am.

David Masse said...

A big thank you, a very tight squishy hug, and kisses, many kisses, to Andrew and Anuschka. With only days counting down to your wedding you manage to find time to sponsor me. I am so touched. We have such wonderful kids, all six of you! Three we gave birth to, and three we eaned for raising great kids.

Love,

David

David Masse said...

It's time now to thank Tom Barrett and Cathy McCulloch, my very dear friends. Tom and I go way, way back to Laval Catholic High School. Tom was the skier. He could sail down a steep hill with monster moguls and make is look like a snake slithering through a manicured lawn. These days Tom's ski vacation of choice is heli-skiing in the bugaboos. So far from my comfort zone.

Thank you Tom and Cathy for your very generous donation in support of the cause. It is deeply appreciated. We'll be seeing you next week in Vancouver.

David Masse said...

Another word of thanks for the gift from Nexen Energy Ulc matching Misti Christensen's very generous contribution. If all employers were to do the same, the world would be a much better place.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

David Masse said...

A bright and sunny thank you to Francine Lelièvre, CEO of Montreal's Pointe à Callière Museum of History and Archaeology, the only major archaeology museum in Canada and the U.S. Francine has forgotten more about the ins and outs charitable funding than I can ever hope to know. Thank you Francine for your very generous contribution to my ride for the cure.

Un très grand merci ensoleillé à Francine Lelièvre, PDG du musée d'archéologie et d'histoire Pointe à Callière de Montréal, le seul musée d'archéologie d'importance au Canada et aux États-Unis. Francine a une maitrise incroyable sur tout ce qui touche la levée de fonds aux fins charitables. Merci Francine pour ton appui si généreux à ma campagne pour vaincre le cancer.

David Masse said...

Deep, deep thanks to Glenn Keeling. His extremely generous sponsorship places me tied for first place in the Toronto ride, and ranked 23rd globally. I can't believe that those honors are sustainable because the fund raising campaign is still not in high gear, but the momentary thrill is a real fundraising high!

Thank you Glenn!!!

David Masse said...

A great big thank you to Anne-Marie Masse, my cousin and faithful vet for many years to Taylor, our beloved Golden Retriever. Thanks for your support Anne-Marie, it means a lot.

David Masse said...

My stepmother, Marie St-Jean Masse made a very generous contribution to my fundraising campaign for which I am truly grateful. It put me within striking distance of quadrupling my $500 goal. My heartfelt thank you and love to Marie!

David Masse said...

I got a boost and a lift from 'JV' that helped me vault over the $2K bar. 'JV' are none other than our 'kids' Jonathan and Vicky. Thanks guys! Huge hugs and many squishy kisses for your generous gift!

David Masse said...

Our darling daughter Lauren and her dapper and debonair fiancé Harris, made a generous contribution boosting my campaign well into the $2K+ stratosphere! Thank you so much, huge, huge hugs and great big kisses to you both!

David Masse said...

A huge, huge thank you to David Anderson. David is an amazing guy. I don't want gush too much, suffice to say that of all the really good people I have had the privilege to work with, David is tied for first place. Definitely top two, and number three and beyond is a huge step down from the No.1 and No.2 spots. Thank you David for your very, very, very generous sponsorship in support of my ride in the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Among my sponsors, all of whom have been generous, your generosity makes you No.1 Quite fitting.

David Masse said...

Annette Laroche and I go way, way, way, way back, basically back to the very beginning of my legal career. She is a very special person, whip smart, with a very big heart and shoulders so broad she lends amazing support to many who come to depend upon her. Thank you Annette for your very generous support. Come for a visit! I'll make you eggs benedict!

David Masse said...

Another thank you goes out to Bill Mackenzie. Bill helped kick some serious regulatory butt back in 2011. He was there to help out when his help was really needed, just as he is now, helping out again. Thanks Bill!

David Masse said...

More big hugs and tons of kisses to Elizabeth and David, my sister, and my brother from another mother. Thank you for your very generous sponsorship. You have given my sponsorship a major lift. All my love...

David Masse said...

What can I say... but thank you to my sister Andrée for her generous sponsorship! Andrée wants me to wear 'a snappy tie'. I certainly will, that's a promise. Thanks Andrée!

David Masse said...

Thanks to Bev and Chuck for sponsoring my 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's ride. It's truly appreciated.

David Masse said...

OMG, Sylvia Groves, you ROCK! Yes folks, Sylvia, a colleague, some-time partner-in-crime, and all-around great gal and governance guru, donated very generously in support of my Ride, a gift that once more propels my campaign like so much rocket fuel! Thank you Sylvia, so very much appreciated!

David Masse said...

A brotherly thank you to John and Joanne for their generous sponsorship, it is truly appreciated. Wait till you see me all decked out for the event! Sporting John's vest and bow tie, spiritually, John will be riding with me. Thank you, thank you!

David Masse said...

Elaine and Shawn McReynolds just put me within striking distance of $3,000 in sponsorships. That means that they just made it more likely than not that I will succeed in sextupling (SEXTUPLING!!!!) my initial fund raising goal for the Ride. Thank you both so much, it is very, very much appreciated!

David Masse said...

A big hearty thank you to my very dear friends Gino and Gabriella for their generous donation and valued support for my participation in the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride as well as for their kind hospitality for our weekend trip to Montreal. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The copyright in all text and photographs, except as noted, belongs to David Masse.