For the 16th year, the Rick Graham Diabetes Awareness Memorial Ride honored the former Boston firefighter who died from the disease. However, the recent loss of two people heavily involved with making the ride a success was on the minds of organizers at this year’s event, held Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Dudley L. Brown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Onset.

“This year has been unreal,” said David Hayes, one of the ride’s organizers. “We were saddened to put the ride together without them, but it’s rewarding to see so many people come out and celebrate their lives.”

Adrian “Pony” Drakes passed away in December and Janice “Ms. J” Jones, the group’s treasurer, died in January.

Hayes said Drakes would fill many roles leading up to the ride and helped keep the event running smoothly. The event is held in honor of Graham, who suffered a diabetic-related heart attack while riding his motorcycle in 2001.

This year’s event attracted roughly 600 people and more than 300 bikes were registered for the ride. Riders left Boston in the morning and rode 50 miles before ending in Onset. The event also featured, food, music and raffles under the Veterans of Foreign Wars pavilion.   

Hayes and Fitzgerald Allen, another organizer, noted the group lost Graham’s son, Rick Jr., in 2016.

“We’re at a loss for words, losing three people close to us,” said Hayes. “It’s good to see all these people come out and remember the folks who put this together.”

Fitzgerald Allen, another organizer who was close to Graham, agreed.

Allen said bikers from across New England and New York arrived for the event, which raised approximately $5,000 for diabetes-related causes.

“It’s spiritual, you can feel that,” he said. “There’s so much division in the country right now, but today all kinds of people are coming together for one cause, a good cause.”