

AGRA: Royal Riders Motorcycle Club, a brigade of Bullet (Royal Enfield) riders, took to the streets of Agra for the distinguished gentlemen’s ride, an international motorcycling event for awareness on prostate cancer , on Sunday. The event, which was collectively held in 250 cities of 56 countries around the world, was duly supported by Motoroaders Super Bikers of Agra.

It was a treat to the eye of the residents in town who were seen cheering more than 80 riders who rode their Royal Enfield in the busy lanes of the city. Dressed-up like gentlemen, the bikers were holding banners and posters in hands which contained information about prostate cancer.

The bikers were also joined by women from various sections of the society. The women preferred to ride Scootys and Activa but their endeavour was appreciated by men.

The bike rally started from St John’s College around 4.30pm and continued through the lanes and bylanes of Yamuna Kinara, Agra Fort, Hathi Ghat and ended at Sadar. It was inaugurated by the chief development officer P Meena. The bikers also stopped at various points and discussed about the disease with men, who generally were awkward while discussing about prostate cancer.

Himanshu Bansal, one of the bikers involved with Royal Riders Motorcycle Club of Agra, gave a brief history about the annual ride: “Introduced in 2012, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a unique international motorcycling event, organized simultaneously in 380 cities of 56 countries around the world, to raise awareness on prostate cancer and funds to support research work. The event introduces the participants to the reasons and cures of prostate cancer by making the public interact with experts. The unique theme of formal dressing of riders draws attention of the public, which helps to spread awareness on this disease by direct interaction with them.”

Prostate cancer is a cancer which develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The disease is said to be slow growing, however, sometimes it grow relatively fast. The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.

Vikram Shukla, another biker associated with the Royal Riders Club, said the club is essentially a group of people who ride Royal Enfields for leisure travel across the country. Its members also participate actively in raising awareness on social causes, safety drives and charity programs since 2010.

The bike riders who were also accompanied by doctors informed that besides increase in life expectancy, imbalances in lifestyle and food in general are among the reasons for the rise in the number. Doctors also opined that hesitation is the prime cause for delayed detection and treatment of the disease.

Dr Sanjay Agarwal, a surgical oncologist, said Indian men are hesitant to talk about prostate cancer. This is the reason why they keep on suffering with the disease related to urinary infections, frequent urination, retention of urine, incontinence which is involuntarily urination and even erectile dysfunction but they never approached to doctor. “All these are symptoms that could be related to prostate cancer. They should not suffer in silence,” added Dr Agarwal.

The expert opined that once diagnosed, the disease is easily curable through minor operations and drugs. As prostate cancer takes a long time to grow, there is a good enough reason for patients to get themselves checked. Another vital point cancer specialists advice is that prostate cancer is common among those who have a family history.

