The annual ride in memory of Rex Gill to raise donations for food banks in his honour returns to the Okanagan on Sept. 21.
The event aims to continue the philanthropic work that Gill started before his death in 2019, raising donations for the Oasis foodbank in Penticton and the Kelowna Gospel Mission.
“This ride is continuing what Rex started in October of 2018. And it has grown,” said Marie Nobles, Gill's mother and the ride's current organizer. “He was all about helping single parents, elders and veterans. The charities we donate to in his memory are not government funded and help the people Rex would have been trying to help if he was still here.”
Gill had been organizing and participating in charity rides himself to raise funds to help the homeless before his death.
His 2019 murder in Kamloops remains unsolved and is believed to have been due to a case of mistaken identity.
The ride is also in memory of Mike Courtenay, a close friend of Gill's who died in 2020.
Riders will gather in Penticton, and drive through Keremeos, Osoyoos and Oliver before ending in Okanagan Falls.
In addition to motorcycle enthusiasts and friends of Gill and Courteney, classic cars and drivers from the Apple Valley Cruisers will also be participating this year.
Those wishing to get involved are asked to meet at Moduline Industries parking lot in Penticton, adjacent to Bannister Ford Penticton along Hwy. 97.
Registration cost is $20 and takes place from 8:15 am until 9:30 am. Riders will depart at 10 a.m. and will be in Okanagan Falls from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to raising funds to support the local charities, the ride also aims to raise awareness for Gill's unsolved murder.
“We are raising awareness that the legal system is broken. It has been five years and eight months since my son was murdered — and the ones responsible have never been arrested yet,” Nobles said. “The RCMP have done their job, but the government keeps changing Crown Council so often that they have not issued an arrest warrant yet.”
