Male Bag Foundation chairman Robert Glover and founding rider Peter Stevens, from Ballarat, gave 100 one litre drink bottles to the prostate care unit, as well as a special riders’ jacket to nurse Sarah Birtels.

The drink bottles are designed for men waiting for an examination or treatment, as they have to drink at least one litre beforehand.

It also reduces stigma, as nurses can look for men with the Male Bag drink bottles.

BRICC was the home of the first trans-perineal biopsy machine in a regional area, bought with money raised from an earlier ride.

Providing a safer and less invasive prostate biopsy, more than 600 men have been examined by the machine in the two years it has been at the hospital.

“We had lots of infections as a consequence and a lot of pain (with the old method),” Ms Birtels said.

“This machine can access a better part of the prostate and get biopsies from more of the prostate, it’s a much, much better way.

“Men don’t have an issue with that, but they do with the trans-rectal, and doctors would say ‘you’d need another one,’ and men would refuse.”

The foundation has also raised money to buy machines at other regional hospitals, including Bendigo and Bairnsdale.

This year’s ride is focused on raising money for the Wagga Wagga hospital.

Mr Glover said with the current drought conditions, making healthcare for rural men as accessible as possible is the priority.

“Men (in New South Wales) are too busy making sure their farms work, their bank managers are on their back, suppliers are on their back - this is a simple thing and it works,” he said.

“Men in NSW won’t have to go to Melbourne or Sydney if they have a machine in their local community.”

This year’s ride begins at Melbourne, with 17 participants on original Honda CT90 or 110 postie bikes, all in premium condition and with as few modifications as possible heading to Bathurst via Echuca, returning though Canberra and Seymour.

“They’re just like bikies,” Ms Birtels joked.

“But we don’t have the tats,” Mr Glover added.

A highlight this year will be patron David Parkin visiting Geelong star Tom Hawkins’ farm near Finley with the riders.

Mr Stevens said it was always good to help community groups, and many local businesses contribute.

“I’ve been on all the rides, from Perth to Melbourne, and around Tasmania,” he said.

“When we first developed the ride, I said to the committee, why don’t we do some practical means of supporting prostate cancer, not just raising awareness … it’s a terrible disease.

“All of the riders and the crew pay their own way, and every dollar goes into providing some material benefit to places like the hospital, and particularly the public hospitals.”

About 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and more than 3300 pass away.

To donate, or find out more, visit www.themalebagfoundation.org.au