Greg Copeland

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

On Sunday the 21^st of May, Michelle and I will don our Texas version of distinguished attire with our fellow men and women across the globe to join the fight with The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride to raise awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of the Movember Foundation. 

The list of lost friends and family is getting too long.  Recent years have been difficult.  Most recently we were devasted with the lost of very good friend Greg Means to sudden hearth failure.  His sudden passing has been and continues to be a reality that is impossible to grasp.  We lost Cousin Etoile’s husband James and good friend Sheriff Glenn Smith, both to sudden, unexpected heart failure.  During the pandemic we lost friends to COVID.  And it seems like yesterday that we lost Michelle’s brother Ron Depuy who took his life at the much too young age of 33 and lost Greg’s good friend and partner W.J. “J” Everett who took his life at much too young of an age.  We continue to ride in memory of Greg’s much younger brother, David Ross, who died of cancer at 42.

We have created our own local, rural ride for where we live in and around Pine Island, Texas.  I hope to be riding a 1972 BMW R75/5 Toaster or an old CHiPs BMW if you remember the TV series.  Michelle will drive the chase truck and trailer.  The chase truck and trailer carry the crew, gear, tools, and supplies in support of the riders and vintage motorcycles.   

Prostate cancer affects more men than any other cancer, a number surpassed by men dying from suicide which has only exacerbated during the pandemic --OVER 500,000 men die from suicide globally each year.  That is one every minute.  The number of men that are suffering, and most suffering silently, is growing, and we need to do something about that.

Riding to raise awareness for prostate cancer came even closer home last year when Greg’s PSA came back abnormally high and remained abnormally high after weeks of treatment.  Having a prostate biopsy to check for cancer is unsettling, and uncomfortable at best.  But thankfully biopsy results are negative. 

Please reach out to give what you can and show your support.  For your uncles, your brothers, your fathers and friends.  And would love to have you join us in person or spirit.

Please click on the following link to join us 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.

https://gfolk.me/GregCopeland229983

Video of our ride

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q66lq6syyp226vh/DGR%20short%20video%20with%20logo.mp4?dl=0