Nairn’s Very Distinguished Gentleman and vintage biker raises £10k in just over a decade riding his Triumph Thunderbird Sport and Triumph Tiger in global charity event
He is a distinguished gentleman and he loves to ride his vintage motorbike.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was always going to be right up Dode Fraser’s street, even if it was conceived half a world away in Sydney, Australia.
Sure enough, the Nairn man’s participation in the worldwide charity phenomenon has now raised over £10,000 for the event’s prostate cancer and men's mental health charities in just over a decade.
These days an event that has spread in popularity to all corners of the planet, across 109 countries, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) unites classic and vintage-styled motorcycle riders to raise funds and awareness.
Riders taking part do so in dapper clothing, often with an extravagant moustache, real or improvised to complete the effect.
Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way of connecting niche motorcycle enthusiasts and communities globally, while raising funds to support those vital causes.
Dode, a semi-retired courier company coordinator, first took part in 2014 in Inverness.
Since then, the 68-year-old has taken part in various DGR runs in the Highland capital, Aberdeen and Birmingham.
His last one, in 2024, marked Triumph's 75th anniversary celebrations at the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb venue in Worcestershire.
Dode said: “I’ve been raising funds for prostate cancer since 2014 and have been on 12 of their runs, which are there simply to raise awareness of men's problems, both mentally and physically.
“My dad, who is 89 years old, has had prostate cancer for quite a few years now and quite a few friends and acquaintances have suffered at the hands of the disease.
“This is why I do this every year to help raise funds.
“I usually use my Triumph Thunderbird Sport for the local events and my Triumph Tiger for the ones further afield.
“I’d be really grateful if anyone locally would like to sponsor me this year.”
The Inverness event this year will start and finish at Inverness Biker Gear, at Walker Road, Longman, meeting up at 10am and departing an hour later on a route around Inverness.
