SHILLONG, May 18: Shillong embraced horsepower with heart as it officially joined the global fold of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) on Sunday with a slice of vintage charm and a lot of style, a landmark moment where style met substance in the cause of men’s health.
Over 70 dapper riders suited up and kick-started the city’s inaugural DGR, hosted by the CaféRacers of Shillong, blending the vintage allure of classic motorcycles with a powerful message — to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the often-overlooked crisis of men’s mental health.
Starting from ISBT, the ride wound its way through the scenic stretches of Ri-Bhoi district and prominent spots across Shillong, drawing waves, smiles, and curiosity from onlookers as chrome gleamed and engines roared. But beneath the spectacle was a deeper focus to de-stigmatise conversations around men’s emotional and physical well-being.
“This organisation has brought about change in the stigmatisation of men’s health,” said Dr Kham Chyrmang, president of the CaféRacers of Shillong.
“Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer in men and this event through its global charity partner, Movember, has been tackling this issue with promising results. The more salient feature of this event is to highlight the issue of men’s mental health. Studies have shown alarming rates of men being five times more likely to suffer from issues related to mental health which leads to a number of untimely deaths,” he said.
“I am honoured to be a part of this event and to be the first official ride host for Shillong in 2025,” said Edamiki Shylla, vice president of CaféRacers of Shillong MC. “Since 2012, people all around the world have been uniting for men’s health through organised rides and a showcase of vintage-styled motorcycles.”
The ride concluded with a spirited gathering, where heartfelt addresses were delivered by Dr Sandy Syiem, founder of mental health institution SANKER, and East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah. Both underscored the importance of compassion, empathy, and creating safe spaces for open conversations around mental health.
Adding a powerful voice of solidarity, Hazel Tariang, president of Gear Heart Valkyries, the only female rider, said, “Today, I ride with love and purpose for the men in our lives silently battling within — fathers, brothers, partners and friends. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is more than just a ride. It’s a movement to spark conversations around mental health and prostate cancer, to break the silence that too often surrounds them. As a woman, I ride not behind, but beside, to show that they are not alone.”
Rejuvenated Bajaj scooters drew significant attention at the event, while fully restored Yamaha RD 350 and the Japanese giant’s other RX series bikes also turned heads.
Two-Stroke Society of Shillong also participated in the event.
The DGR was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2012 by Mark Hawwa and has since become the largest global charity motorcycle event, with over 120,000 riders in more than 1,100 cities across 110 countries. Since 2016, DGR has partnered with Movember to fuel research and advocacy in men’s health.
It was inspired by a photo of TV Show Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic motorcycle and wearing his finest suit. Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way of connecting niche motorcycle enthusiasts and communities while raising funds to support the men in our lives.
