Polished men, polished cars, a jaunt to polish men’s health.
The third edition of Nelson’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive strapped in on Sunday with 25 debonair drivers along with their passengers cruising in their classic vehicles to pump financial fuel into the Movember charity for its men’s mental health and prostate cancer research and programmes.
Co-driver of the event, Mike Wilson, says men’s health is “well represented”, but it shouldn’t be left in the rearview mirror.
“There's still a lot of men's health issues which still need attention, and mental health especially is one,” he says.
“I know the public mental health stuff is under a lot of pressure across the board.”
Co-driver Kate Cooper says the strong ties between men and their pride and joys, and dressing as the best versions of themselves, were a clear road to modifying men's mental health.
“It's a really good reason to get out with your mate, everyone here pretty much has brought along a friend, it forces them to check in,” she says.
The round trip from the Nelson Classic Car Museum included stops at Havelock, the Omaka Wings & Wheels Open Day at Blenheim, and St Arnaud.
Close to $15,000 was raised in 2024, but Kate says the recent clouts to Nelson’s economy had eased off the fundraising gas this year, with more than $3000 collected.
She says the door remains open for donations until mid-October.
“We're always trying to beat the previous year, but this year is incredibly tough on the region economically, so we're quite far off,” she says.
“I think we’d be happy with five grand.”
Visit: www.gentlemansdrive.com/drives/new+zealand/nelson to donate to Nelson’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive page.
