Around 50 bikes, carrying both single riders and passengers alike, took part in the tenth annual Desiree’s Ride on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The decade-long event was created in honour of Susan Gerth’s daughter, Desiree Gallagher, who was the victim of an assault back in May of 2013.
Following the assault, Gallagher, who was 21-years-old at the time, survived a seven-storey fall from a balcony but was left wheelchair-bound, partially blind and with short-term memory loss.
The year of the assault, Gallagher’s best friend Sheraya Stanford and Sheraya’s mother, Lisa Ellison-Stanford, held a fundraiser to help the family cover her medical needs and rehabilitation, but the support didn’t stop there.
In 2014, John Kormos, a friend of the family, organized the first ever Desiree’s Ride, which at the time was called “Ride for Des,” and participants helped raise $10,000 to support both Gallagher and her family with the rising rehabilitation and medical costs.
After two years of battling, Gallagher later succumbed to her initial injuries on May 14, 2015 at the age of 23.
Throughout the years, the ride has continued on and Gerth, with her friends and family by her side, eventually created a non-profit organization called Desiree’s Angels: Victims for a New Start.
The motorcycle charity ride has since become the organization’s signature event, along with golf tournaments and other various fundraising nights, and the group has helped raise well over $100,000 for victims of crime, with all funds being donated to the Victim Services of Brant.
On Saturday, riders from across southern Ontario gathered at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Brantford to hear from Gerth about the long lasting impacts of violence to not only victims, but their loved ones as well.
“For those that are here who are victims, or have known someone who is, you will understand why we are here today and how important this cause is,” she said. “For those that haven’t had to experience this, I pray you never have to. No one understands the effects, the pain and suffering a victim experiences until it happens to you.”
“Our family has experienced a lot of tragedy over the last 12 years. We lost our son, Dwayne, five years ago after he took his own life; he couldn’t deal with what happened to his sister. He felt guilty for not being there for her, and a lot of anger towards the monster that did this,” continued Gerth. “…This is one of the effects of being a victim. With the tragedy of Desiree, the most difficult part is knowing that someone, who I call a monster, took her life and has put a painful emptiness in our family’s lives.”
Gerth went on to say that while it’s hard to talk about what happened to her daughter, she continues to do so to bring awareness not just about the impact of crime and assault, but about the justice system as well.
“My daughter’s story is one of many; there are so many victims and stories that have not been told but I choose to talk about my daughter’s tragedy to bring awareness, and I have great support to help me do so,” she said. “I want to bring awareness to what victims have to go through… it’s a never ending roller coaster and a life sentence but I have been blessed to have so much amazing support from the community, friends, family, and especially from my Des family – the support that keeps me standing and the strength to continue fighting.”
Before heading off on their scenic ride to Hoover’s Marina and Wharfside Restaurant in Nanticoke, Larry Brock, MP for Brantford-Brant-South-Six Nations, took the opportunity to praise Gerth for her work and her resiliency, adding that the justice system has to change.
“I’ve done my best and will continue to be a strong advocate for victims of crime, and I know strong warriors like Susan Gerth, her family, her board and this organization, will continue to raise awareness,” said Brock. “She is but one of the thousands of victim groups doing the very same thing day in and day out, raising awareness and urging the government to prioritize the victims so that we can be proud of a criminal justice system that creates a balance between the rights of the accused and safety, community and rights of victims.”
Shortly after, Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant, thanked all of the participants for what they were doing.
“All of you being here today makes a difference,” he said. “…We need to show our community that that behaviour is completely unacceptable, and that’s what you’re doing here today. I want to thank you all on behalf of the province of Ontario for what you do every day to just try to make our community better and to make people behave better, not just to women, but to each other.”
On Monday, August 18, Gerth announced that between this year’s charity ride, the Knights of Columbus fundraising breakfast, the golf tournament and other events, Desiree’s Angels were able to donate $11,225 to Victim Services of Brant.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
