Registrations are now open for the annual Grampians Ride to Remember 2021, with hundreds of motorcyclists expected to take the roads to commemorate police officers who have died while serving.
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Now in its 13th year, the ride is run by the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch and serves to remember the police officers who died in the line of duty while also raising funds for the Ararat Hospital.
The ride course takes motorcyclists on a 200 kilometre round trip, starting and finishing in Ararat, while passing through passing through Moyston, Pomonal, Halls Gap, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Wickliffe, Willaura, and Maroona.
Grampians Ride to Remember chairman Dean Pinniger joined the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch five years ago.
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Mr Pinniger said events in both his personal and professional life motivated him to get involved in the foundation and eventually the ride.
"Working for AME (Systems Victoria) as part of the senior management team, the challenge was put out by our managing director to have community involvement beyond what the business does," he said.
"I had a young friend, Jason Bond, who was in the police academy and was killed in a traffic accident, so I decided joining the Blue Ribbon Committee was something I wanted to do.
"One of the first things I did was help organise things with the ride and it sought of went from there."
The Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch is presently raising funds to purchase a General X Ray Machine which will cost about $235,000.
Mr Pinniger said the ride was central in raising funds for the Ararat Hospital.
"They're very committed people on the Blue Ribbon Committee and Ride to Remember Committee.
"We've raised money that has gone to the perioperative unit, the emergency area up there, the helipad, and now we're working on the x-ray machine.
"To raise money from the community that goes into the hospital that anyone the community at any time could benefit makes it a very worthwhile cause."
Mr Pinniger stated the committee had been determined to hold the event despite the extra logistical challenges caused by COVID.
"We really wanted to give people something to look forward to."
The ride costs $40 to enter.
To register for the Ride to Remember head to www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=690156&.
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