Poker run keeps giving back

Times Reporter

 

The 8th annual Harleys and Hotrods Poker Run is coming up on Sept. 7 and 8, and organizers are hoping to add a new element to the event this year. 

Every year funds raised from the event have been donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation (CWF). This year the organizers would like to see a portion of the funds continue to go to CWF, but they would also like to see a percentage of the funds dispersed to local charities as well. 

“We still want to help out Children’s Wish, we just also want to start supporting other charities as well,” said Derrick Andersen, vice-president of the Harleys and Hotrods Poker Run. 

The goal is to get people on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HHPokerRun, where suggestions can be given about what charities people would like to see a portion of the funds donated to. 

“It doesn’t mean that the most popular one will get it, I don’t want them to give up if one has 100 votes and another has 10. It could be split up between local charities, we’re just looking for suggestions right now,” said Andersen.

Anyone with a suggestion is asked to ‘like’ the Facebook page, list their charity of choice and invite their friends to ‘like’ the page too.   

As in the past, the poker run will begin at Underground Performance at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 7. There will be breakfast and registration, and a bit of a car/bike show before the run starts. 

That evening after the run there will be a bike/car wash, 50/50 draw, a live band, beer gardens, dinner and charity auctions.

“As always the Sunday is the bike rodeo and kids are welcome, you can bring your families down. The rest of the weekend though is definitely an adult event,” said Andersen. 

Last year was a record breaking year, with the Harleys and Hotrods Poker Run breaking the $100,000 donation mark for the Children’s Wish Foundation.