Laura Ferri

DGR 2023

Hello & thank you for visiting my page, I am grateful for your support, whatever it may be 🫶🙏

This will be my 5th year & with your help I've been able to contribute over $9,000 in that time. My goal is not only to pass the $10K mark, but to make this my best year yet! Every little bit helps & your words of encouragement are so meaningful as well - they keep me going! 

If you want to know the nitty grittys behind why I participate, continue to read, if the not so warm fuzzies aren't your thing stop after this sentence, love ya! And thank you again 💞🌟

Ok, so I find it only fair that if I'm asking you to sponsor me specifically, I owe ya my story, why I got into this and why your support means so very much to me...

In the winter of 2018, I was struggling with many heartaches, and then my dear friend Russell took his life... I can't explain how hard it hit. It was surreal, and the months to follow were some of the most difficult. That summer (2019) I spent a great deal of time on my motorcycle, Lucy. Using the open road to heal. That is when I heard about the DGR, and I knew that I had to face my fears of large group rides and participate - for Russell. And to raise awareness, give people a safe place to talk, and donate to such an important issue. You helped me raise $865!

In 2020, that year was difficult for us all! But that June I lost another friend, Dom. What had happened was traumatic and unfathomable. I spent the summer unsure, that even if the DGR still occurred (due to the panademic), that I could participate. But when it got closer it was many of you that gave me a gift... you started asking when I was going to start my page up, that you were looking to support me... so when the DGR announced we would have to ride solo, I took that and ran. I used this unique opportunity to drive me and said I'd ride 1km per dollar donated. You all contributed to a weekend long ride to Ottawa and back, over 1200kms! The donations warmed my heart, the ride began to heal my heart. It was so cathartic. I cried tears of mourning and tears of joy. The experience was unforgettable, as I took my two friends with me on this solo ride. I had many of you ask me to take a moment for someone you lost too. So I did. I made independent stops for each person, told them who missed them & thanked them for keeping me safe on the road. 

As much as the losses broke me, you all, each year, help heal me. So sure, each year is cathartic, maybe that makes it selfish.

But each year I learn more about how these causes have impacted others, losses or struggles they've experienced, and how the DGR helps. 

So thank you. 

Thank you for supporting me.

Thank you for sharing with me. 

I am forever grateful to you for helping me make a difference. 

Let's make this year the best year yet... for our friends, our family, our community 💞🌎🙏

Join our team as we ride for The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride!