Annual Children’s Wish Foundation fundraiser to break $100K
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
The roar of motorcycles will be heard filling the streets on Sept. 8 as the seventh annual Harleys and Hot Rods poker run starts up. Proceeds raised from the event are donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation and this year will see over $100,000 raised from over the past seven years.
Everything begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of Underground Performance with a toonie breakfast and a show and shine.
From there players in the poker run will be off to begin collecting their poker hand. This year one of the biggest new things is the event has gone from a one-day event to two days.
“We’ll be surpassing $100,000 this year for the Children’s Wish Foundation, that’s for sure,” said Derrick Anderson, owner of Strathmore Pawn and Collectables.
“I’ve been on board since day one. It’s always getting a little bit bigger, a little bit better. Now we’ve moved it into a two-day so we’ll definitely be able to have a lot more fun for the weekend.
“It was hard to get everything into a one day event because there’s just so much. So instead of doing a little bit of everything, we’re going to do full events on certain things.”
As the poker players finishing rounding up their hands they will head to AAB Steel, located 10 minutes east of Strathmore. On Saturday there will be a charity bike/car wash, a silent auctions and two live classic rock bands, The Kids and Putting On the Foil.
“It is adult only on the Saturday but on the Sunday kids are welcome, we’ll have some games,” said Anderson.
Along with the games there will also be the bike rodeo and a number of other events on Sunday, Sept. 9. Typically the poker run is held in June, but this year things were changed up. One of the reasons for moving the run into September and out of the summer is so that the kids are back in school, and people are back from holidays. The hope is the new date will help draw more people into the two-day fundraising event.
“Bring your campers, bring your tents, we’re supplying the good time all you’ve got to do is show up,” said Anderson.
Without the continued support of the community, the sponsors and the participants it would be doubtful that the annual event would have taken off as well as it has.
“We want to thank all our sponsors and participants who have helped us out over the past seven years, and helped turn this poker run into what it is,” said Anderson.
For $40 people can participate in the poker run, will get a T-shirt and get into the party. For anyone who doesn’t want to ride on the poker run but wants to take part in everything else, it’s only $20. Camping for the weekend is $20 and Anderson said if people want to head over early and set up that’s fine.
“There is a shuttle service available to Strathmore, so if you don’t want to stay out there and you’re drinking there is a shuttle service,” said Anderson.
There is also the option to pre-register at Underground Performance, 403-901-1000, or Strathmore Pawn and Collectables, 403-901-1100.
Anderson said he is hoping to see 200 to 250 people come out for the weekend, or even just for one day.