Central Albertans will ride their motorcycles around the area to signify the importance of respect.
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC), in partnership with Urban Bulldogs Against Kids Abuse (UBAKA), will host the second annual Ride for Respect poker rally fundraiser at Westerner Park this Saturday.
“The biggest thing is to keep talking about respect and to make people more and more familiar with the importance of respect,” said Patricia Arango, CASASC executive director.
“This idea is to start a conversation about respect. … When we talk about respect, it’s definitely for every single person in the community. A lack of respect is the reason we have so many clients (at the CASASC) and more kids than adults on our waitlist.”
CASASC is committed to ending sexual violence and helping to build safer communities through promoting awareness and healing, education, empowerment and renewal. UBAKA is a motorcycle organization that aims to maintain support to victims of all kinds of abuse.
Registration for the event is $20 and will open at 10 a.m. Then at 11 a.m., kickstands will go up as the motorcycle ride begins.
Participants will ride east to Stettler, south to Big Valley and will then return to Westerner Park in Red Deer where there will be live music, food trucks, vendors and other activities for the whole family.
All money raised at the event will go towards providing services for the community through the CASASC.
“These funds are so important. We’re moving into the new building with the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre – the Centre of Excellence,” Arango said.
“We’ll all be together in one building, which is very important for us.”
Last year’s Ride for Respect was unfortunately impacted by the weather.
“It rained that day. It felt like it was the only rain day that summer, when we did the event,” Arango added.
“This year we’re able to piggyback from what we did to set up that event. We’re able to use the designs and everything. We’re doing it again.”
Arango said she’s already looking forward to the third annual Ride for Respect in 2024.
“My hope is next year we go even bigger and even better.”
For more information, visit www.casasc.ca.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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