But the enormity and impact of breast cancer was there to see. On his t-shirt.

His wife Marian passed away from breast cancer and the disease also claimed the life of his sister.

And despite the odds, Mike was also diagnosed with breast cancer some five years ago.

While he has fully recovered – and still volunteers for his local SES and RFS brigades and is the main organiser of the Black Dog Ride – he called on governments to have more financial input into breast cancer research.

“I just think our governments need to provide more funding into research,” he said.

“Otherwise, we have to go cap in hand to try and get something happening.

“This is a great event too and to see so many people here willing to ride for breast cancer research is just great.”

Mike was wearing a t-shirt with his wife’s photo on it to symbolise why he was riding.

He said his own diagnosis was picked up while he was feeding his horse.

“I was feeding the horse and it starting pushing me in the chest and kept on nudging me,” he said.

“That’s when I noticed a lump. But I didn’t realise that men could get breast cancer.

“Shortly after that, I was part of the RFS teams involved in the Harrington fires and I happened to be chatting to Denise McCarthy who was a nurse at the Port Macquarie Private Hospital.

“There was a discussion around the table about men’s health issues. So I asked her about the lump and she said to get it checked out quickly.

“So I moved fast on it.”

While it was detected early, Mike still had radiation shots as part of the treatment.

“Marian passed away seven years ago from breast cancer and I lost my sister 10 years before that. But I’m going alright now and still involved with the SES and the RFS,” he said.

Leonie Turner says she was inspired to organise the ride because she wanted to show support for her friends who were breast cancer survivors.

“I also believe in helping people,” she said.

“It is great to see so many people turn out and enjoy the day.

“There are men and women riders and they are creating a wonderful atmosphere. 

“And it’s great to see so many people getting into the spirit of the event and dressing up too,” she added.

The annual ride left Port Macquarie and headed west toward Wauchope before tracking to Kew, Laurieton and eventually Bonny Hills for lunch.

Breast Cancer Network Australia says that in 2016 15,930 women and 150 men were diagnosed with breast cancer, and on average, 43 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer everyday.

“The goal is to get to zero breast cancer deaths by 2030 and to do that more research needs to be done,” she said.

“Both men and women can be diagnosed with breast cancer so it is vital that we get the whole community behind us to try and help as much as we can.”

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