It was a celebration of life and togetherness at the Dudley L. Brown Onset VFW on Sunday where nearly 300 motorcycle riders gathered for the Rick Graham Diabetes Awareness Memorial Ride.

“This is to take time to enjoy and embrace each other,” said Fitzgerald Allen, an organizer of the memorial ride. “It's for kids to have something to dream for, to hope for... for the kids to see unification of people coming together and to see peace and love.”

Each year, the memorial ride is held in honor of Rick Graham, a former Boston firefighter who suffered a diabetic-related heart attack while riding his motorcycle in 2001. His son Rich, who passed away from leukemia earlier this year, was honored as well.

Allen was with Graham when he suffered his heart attack. He was the first and only rider Allen had ever lost while riding.

“I've gone to many funerals and we always say, 'We need to stop meeting like this, let's meet on a better note.' This is that better note. We finally done it,” said Allen.

The ride is held the third Sunday of September, and Allen said people commit to it months in advance.

“I do this ride every year for the cause,” said Joe “Slide” Pires, a rider at the event. Pires is a Buffalo Soldier of Boston, a riding group that commemorates cavalries of African American soldiers in the United States Army during the late 1800s. His group was one of many to participate in the ride.

The memorial ride began as a tribute to fallen riders. Five or six years ago, the memorial ride partnered with the American Diabetes Association and has donated 60 to 70 percent of its profits to the association every year. This year, the ride included cancer awareness information.

“We try to incorporate things to make people aware of their health issues,” said event organizer Adrian Drakes. “The point is to try to be more aware of friends and partners you ride with. You become like partners and get to know these guys.”

There was also a health bus at the event with diabetes and cholesterol testing done free of charge.

Allen, too, stressed the importance of riders being open about their health issues so fellow riders could help if needed. If Allen had known about Graham's diabetes, he said he would've paid attention to it and been able to help his friend.

“We're starting to bring that education in,” he said. “If you can see big, strong, tough biker dudes acknowledging that they have an issue, that will open someone's mind to think, 'If they're letting their guard down in dealing with this, then maybe I can let my guard down and let's deal with this together.'”

The motorcyclists began at the Boston Firefighters Hall, took Route 138 down to Onset passing through several towns with police and firefighter escorts.

Randy Delgado, owner of a construction company based out of Carver and a member of the Cancer Sucks Foundation, hosted three games during the event: a hot dog eating contest, a balloon toss, and a slow motorcycle race.

Winners of the competitions won gift cards donated by the Rick Graham Ride. One of the games was done in memory of Trey Miranda, an Onset teen who passed away from brain cancer earlier this year.

Drakes said the entire event was put together by six committee members and dozens of volunteers and was a “complete success from start to finish.”

“It's a full, complete day when everyone is home safe,” said Allen.

Read more about Allen's experiences and connection to diabetes awareness here.