Mom takes part in memorial ride for charity

The third annual Rex Gill Memorial Ride takes place tomorrow (Sept. 25) starting in Penticton and making its way to Kelowna.

The motorcycle ride raises money for charity and honours the memory of Gill, a father of two from Penticton who died in a mistaken-identity shooting outside a Kamloops motel in January 2019.

The ride will make a pitstop at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission on Leon Avenue at around 11 a.m. on Saturday.

From there, the participants will continue to Konquer Custom Rides & Rodson on McCurdy Place where they will have a barbeque, silent auction and cheque presentation to the Mission and local food banks at 1:45 p.m.

“Rex’s mom, Marie Nobles, is honouring her son’s legacy of giving back to those in need in a beautiful way,” said Sonja Menyes, Development Officer at the Gospel Mission. “Although Marie is in a lot of pain herself, she is determined to get on her bike and ride the whole way with Rex’s friends and other motorcyclists. It is great to see all the motorcycles in front of our emergency shelter. It means so much to our residents and is a thrill to see so many bikes together.”

As well as honouring her son, Ms. Nobles is also honoring the loss of Rex’s friend, Mike Courtney, who rode in the 2020 memorial ride and died two blocks away from his home in a crash on his way home from the event.

(Submitted photo/Rex Gill Memorial Ride)

People are encouraged to drop by and donate or cheer the bikers on.