Military Police National Motorcycle Relay benefits blind children

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The Military Police National Motorcycle Relay is a unique event. Every year since 2009, riders have geared up, swung a leg over a saddle, and throttled their way across Canada from coast to coast, all in support of the Military Police Fund for Blind Children (MPFBC). To date, participants have raised $850,000 for the charity.

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“We’re hoping to reach $1 million this year,” says Shawn Dunnett, Alberta chair of the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay. Based in Edmonton, he continues, “Anyone who wishes can donate, and anybody who rides a motorcycle is welcome to join us.”

Dunnett, originally from Ontario, joined the Canadian Forces right out of high school. He toured overseas, and then rolled over to the regular Forces. In 1995, he became a military policeman – that’s when, he says, he learned about the Military Police Fund for Blind Children. According to the charity’s website, the fund was started by Colonel James Riley Stone in 1957. Stone, a Canadian Army Provost Marshal at the time, became aware of issues regarding young blind people when his daughter was diagnosed with eye cancer.

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She became blind, and unfortunately did not live much longer. But through her illness, Stone realized there were underprivileged children “who were unable, through lack of money, to enjoy some of the simpler things in life,” the MPFBC.ca site explains. “He asked members of the military police to contribute a dollar or two,” Dunnett adds, and says, “Those were the rather humble beginnings of the MPFBC.”

Initially aiding those under the age of 13, today the charity benefits children and young adults up to the age of 21. The support includes helping to provide assistive devices, specialized support services, and athletic and recreational programs. The website also states the MPFBC assists other charity organizations or people “involved in the education, training and recreation of blind and visually impaired children and young adults.”

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Dunnett says the MP national motorcycle relay got its start when a few members, passionate about motorcycling and the MPFBC, asked themselves a simple question. “What if we rode our motorcycles across Canada to raise funds for the charity?” Dunnett says of the inspiration. “They dip their tires in the Pacific and take about a month to ride across Canada stopping in various locations, including Legions, military bases and other points of interest.”

On July 1, the relay officially leaves Mile 0 in Victoria to head to Mile 0 in St. John’s, Nfld. However, the ride does not simply cross all 10 provinces in a linear route along the Trans-Canada Highway. And not all riders participate in riding the entire relay. There are four different regions involved, including the Pacific, Prairie, Central and Atlantic. Each region operates several mini rides throughout the riding season to allow more participants an opportunity to be involved and raise funds without having to commit to the entire relay. For example, in early June, Dunnett led a group of motorcyclists from Edmonton to the Fallen Four Memorial Park in Mayerthorpe, Alta. This park was opened in 2008 as a way to pay respects to four RCMP members who died in 2005 in a standoff.

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The memorial, Dunnett says, is not only dedicated to those four policemen, but “to all fallen law enforcement officers and their memories.” He adds, “I think it’s poignant to visit the Fallen Four memorial site as we’ve lost 10 police members in just the past few months.”

Dunnett rides a 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King. Appropriately, it is a retired police model, still in black and white livery. While Dunnett says he always had an interest in motorcycles, he didn’t actually learn to ride until he retired at 50. “My oldest son said if I did it, he’d do it with me, so I paid for the courses and we’ve both been riding since.”

The relay will be in the Calgary area on July 6. There’s a golf tournament scheduled in Okotoks for July 7. On July 8, riders will be at the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, Alta. to visit the RCAF memorial wall and tour the museum’s restored Lancaster bomber.

I think it’s poignant to visit the Fallen Four memorial site as we’ve lost 10 police members in just the past few months.

Shawn Dunnett

Dunnett says the MPNMR will also be holding a mini ride in Lethbridge, Alta. to Waterton National Park on July 8. More information on this ride can be found on Facebook at the MPNMR in AB page.

For more information about the cross-Canada relay, or simply to donate, visit https://sites.google.com/view/mpnationalrelay/home-page or search for MPNMR on Facebook.

Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have a column tip? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or [email protected]