Looking strictly at the numbers, Ride for Doug 2023 edition saw 71 bikers, 48 collector car owners raise $25,000 in honour of a 22-year-old Murrayville man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

But the recent charitable ride was about so much more than numbers for event namesake Doug Penner and his family.

This annual June event is about camaraderie and coming together with friends ride, share a meal, and to help others living with his debilitating disease.

This year, $20,000 of the dollars raises are earmarked for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC), while $5,000 will go specifically to some new equipment needed for Doug.

鈥淎fter years of miserable weather, Ride For Doug 2023 was welcomed with perfect weather,鈥� said Doug鈥檚 father, Cam, who founded the ride in his son鈥檚 honour more than a decade ago.

鈥淓very year, it recharges my soul to look in my mirror and see the support of friends and strangers all banding together in a show of solidarity against this horrible disease. Muscular dystrophy sucks 鈥� but the people who are in the fight with us certainly do not,鈥� he added.

While the event has always featured an afternoon motorcycle ride through the backroads of 91原创, Abbotsford, and Mission, plus a barbecue at the end, this year it expanded to also include a car show and shine.

鈥淒oug is a true gearhead 鈥� and his love for motorcycles is matched only by his love for cars,鈥� Dad explained. 鈥淎dding a show and shine allowed yet more of his supporters to join in. We had a wide range of styles including hot rods, muscle cars, classic, and antique.鈥�

There were close to 50 vehicles on display, including Doug鈥檚 race car, and his sister, Sam, entered her 鈥渂rilliant purple and very distinctive RX8.鈥�

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鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot of horsepower all in one place,鈥� Cam said of the cars and the motorcycles that filled the South 91原创 Church parking lot at the June 4 event.

鈥淣o wonder Doug was smiling so brilliantly,鈥� Dad said.

鈥淔or me, one of my favourite things about RFD is hearing some of the stories of why people participate. This year, Phil (who has probably ridden in 10+ of these) brought a couple of friends. They had heard him rave about the great ride and noble cause, and they came out from Abbotsford. Along the way, they stopped for gas and started chatting with a rider at another pump about where they were off to. This unknown stranger dropped his afternoon ride plans and joined us instead.鈥�

Sharing some of these post-ride thoughts, Cam and Doug both took a turn at the microphone during the after-ride barbecue.

鈥淲e talked about what Muscular Dystrophy Canada does for Canadians with neuro-muscular disorders. We talked about how firefighters have been serving as fundraisers for decades. We relived the Sunshine Dream gift that Doug received this year,鈥� Cam shared.

Doug even took a few minutes to share how he is managing to participate in racing.

RECENT: A Sunshine dream realized for Murrayville鈥檚 Doug Penner

Ride for Doug fundraises for two different causes each year. During the 91原创 event鈥檚 17-year history, they鈥檝e collected $300,000 for MDC. They also, as needed through the years, have raised a portion of the funds specifically for Doug.

鈥淥ver the past years we have used this money to upgrade wheelchair features, install a stairlift, and convert a vehicle,鈥� Cam explained. 鈥淭his year, some of the money is going to be used to get Doug safely in the passenger seat of his race car 鈥� and the rest will support the next piece of equipment he needs.鈥�

While 91原创 has been home to the primary Ride for Doug event through the years, many years there鈥檚 also a Vancouver Island ride. This year, that event is set for Sunday, Sept. 10.