NFU Dairy Board Vice-chair Rob Davies is shining a spotlight on prioritising men's health, having taken part in Hereford's Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride to raise money for Movember.
It's an event the motorcycle enthusiast has been involved with for the past three years. Organised by a group of veterans, the event in Hereford has grown year on year; this year, 85 motorcyclists donning their best suits raised £2,800 for Movember, the ride’s official charity partner of ten years.
Good cause
Rob said: “Men, we’re shocking at looking after our mental and our physical health, so to have anything that raises awareness of that and raises money for it is brilliant.
“My son’s 25 and I’m 56 next week, actually. As you get to a certain age, all of a sudden these things start to be more important to you. They start to be more relevant.”
“There’s a lot being done and that needs to continue”, Rob said, referencing the great work done by local mental health farming charities like We Are Farming Minds.
“But I think there is more we can do,” Rob added, having taken a recent trip himself to the GP for a check up.
“We live and breathe farming and cows. That’s all we talk about, apart from motorbikes. So it’s something completely separate.”
NFU Dairy Board Vice-chair Rob Davies
Escapism
The keen motorcyclist says that biking is one way he takes care of his mental health, and he certainly practises what he preaches.
He takes any opportunity to get out on his bike, especially on those rare days when the sun is shining.
But if that isn’t your thing, “whatever floats your boat” will do, Rob said.
Rob added: “It’s just a bit of escapism, and it’s very good for one’s wellbeing.”
Third times a charm
The NFU Dairy Board Vice-chair has taken part in every Hereford ride, having had a passion for motorcycles and a licence to boot for around 40 years.
On taking part, Rob said: ”Oh it’s brilliant, I love it. Everybody looks so smart.”
Rob farms in partnership with his family, including his son Harry, and relishes the opportunity to bond with his son.
Rob said: “We live and breathe farming and cows. That’s all we talk about, apart from motorbikes. So it’s something completely separate.
“We also meet with a completely different group of people – and there’s lot of camaraderie with motorcyclists. You go along the road and you see another bike and they’ll almost always nod at you, almost without fail.”
Rob comes back year on year for this sense of community, which he notes is not dissimilar to that of farming, alongside the worthy causes the ride supports.
‘Change the face of men’s health’
The ride celebrated 15 years of communities worldwide donning dapper attire and riding vintage-style motorcycles to raise awareness and funds for men’s health.
To date, the Gentleman’s Ride has raised $60.5 million globally across 110 countries with 130,000 riders participating.
Both organisations share a goal ‘to bring people together and change the face of men’s health’, and funds raised go toward Movember’s work in two key areas: men’s mental health and suicide prevention and prostate cancer.
