Five food banks will benefit from money raised during a charity motorcycle ride this weekend in Windsor-Essex.
On A Mission for The Mission will be hosting its 18th Annual Charity Ride - Poker Run 2026, on Sunday, August 30.
The ride runs from Tecumseh with stops in Oldcastle, Essex, and Kingsville before finishing in Harrow.
President of On A Mission for The Mission Shaun Fathers says all the money raised will be used to buy food to meet the need at the Windsor Downtown Mission Food Bank, Windsor Youth Centre, Harrow & Leamington Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, and Kingsville Community Food Bank.
“I think every year it gets bigger, importance-wise, because unfortunately more and more people are looking toward the food bank for food. It is becoming more and more important,” he says.
Over 150 riders took part last year with around $40,000 raised for the local food banks.
Fathers says all people need to do is show up.
“Spread the word, bring your friends. We changed to a poker run style; it’s not a mass ride. You show up and register, and you leave with your group. Or you can wait and ride with me. I’ll be the last one out. We’ll leave at 10:30 a.m., kickstands up, and then we’ll do the route,” he says.
Fathers says the biggest thing is making sure people have food.
“Things are getting tight, and rather than have to choose whether they’re going to eat or pay their rent or mortgage, that’s where our money goes, right to the food bank so they can go get food. Make sure they have enough food to eat,” he says.
Registration for the ride will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill, 13039 Tecumseh Rd. E., Tecumseh.
From there, participants will make their way through Essex County with stops at the following:
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 594 - 5030 Howard Ave., Oldcastle
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 201 - 103 Talbot St. N., Essex
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 188 - 145 Division St. S., Kingsville
The ride finishes at Colchester Bar & Grill, 65 County Road 50 W., Harrow, where there will be live music by Almost Famous, a BBQ dinner, raffle prizes, and more.
Dinner will be served from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Registration is $30 per participant, and a motorcycle is not mandatory - everyone is welcome to participate and support the cause.
Click here for more information on the ride.