H.O.G. members rally behind Project 62

One H.O.G.^® member’s cancer diagnosis has become a driving force for awareness through Project 62

Words by Kevin Taplin, director Wolfruna Chapter

In March 2025, at 62 years old, and despite feeling fit and healthy, after a routine check I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. My oncologist told me that the average life expectancy for someone in my condition was four to five years, and I was immediately put on drastic treatment, including hormone suppressants and chemotherapy.

My friend and pillion rider, Deb, had tragically lost her daughter at just 21 years old, three years ago, after she fell from High Bridge in Newcastle. Deb has set up a charity in her memory, the Chloe Smail Foundation, and so to support this, I arranged an Iron Butt UK challenge: 1,000 miles from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in less than 24 hours. Despite my illness and while in the middle of my chemotherapy treatment, we went ahead with this challenge in July this year. Read more about this story here.

Project 62
I have set up my own charity called Project 62 – Bikers Battling Prostate Cancer (because I was born in 1962 and was diagnosed with cancer at age 62).

One in eight men currently get prostate cancer, so when you take into account wives, partners, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, friends and colleagues, everyone will at some stage in their lives be affected by this disease. In the UK, more than 12,000 men a year die from prostate cancer.

The problem, as I see it, is that although a simple PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test could be so helpful in early detection and treatment, men simply do not go to the doctors – especially when they don’t feel ill. So, my solution is to try to raise funds to buy PSA self-test kits, then go around to various biker events and rallies to tell my story and give away these kits.

Vicki Green, customer experience lead for the UK and Ireland, very kindly allowed me a platform to speak at this year’s H.O.G.^® Regional Officers Connection and the response was phenomenal, with many attendees getting emotional as I told my story. On the Sunday, the Sykes Harley-Davidson^® dealer principal donated a barbecue to be auctioned off for Project 62; this raised an incredible £250.

What happened next was jaw-dropping. Chapter directors and representatives from across the country started shouting out that they wanted to donate to the cause, and within a few minutes, the figure had risen to more than £4,000. Even H-D Financial Services donated £500. It was an amazing and emotional moment and emphasised just how H.O.G. works as a family.

Spreading the message
I am continuing to spread the word and recently attended the first ever H.O.G. Malta Rally. We had 36 members in attendance from Wolfruna Chapter, and my good friend, Gavin Freebairn (our activities and rally officer) and I decided to ride the 2,000 miles to get there. On the way, we met up with the Lupi Chapter near Naples, Italy, where again I told my story and gave away kits. Malta Chapter have asked me to do the same at their rally. It was quite a journey to get there, travelling down through the Netherlands, Germany – where we encountered torrential rain – Switzerland and Italy. We left our dealership in Wolverhampton on Saturday afternoon and reached Malta on Wednesday evening in time to greet the rest of our chapter, who flew in on Thursday.

So, there you have it. Gavin and I set off for home on Wednesday morning, hoping to reach the UK by Sunday, but so long as I’m able, the story will go on, as the message is important – I’ve even painted up my Road Glide^® to promote the project.