The North Island's first annual "Poker Run" fundraiser was held Saturday, Sept. 7
Co-organizer Carlos Duarte noted the motorcycle ride fundraiser was held to "support the Tri-Port legions, but especially our own here in Port Hardy because it needs it the most."
There were roughly 18 bikes and five cars involved, which meant at least 25-30 people signed up to participate in the ride that went from Port Hardy to Port McNeill to Port Alice and then back to Port Hardy, where the Whisky Jacks played at the legion to close the evening with some live music and dancing.
All proceeds raised from the riders who entered the Poker Run went to the legions.
The Port McNeill legion raised $250 which it donated towards the upcoming Wounded Warrior Run that happens every February, and the Port Alice legion raised a total of $211.
When asked how the Poker Run went, Duarte said the response he and co-organizer Jason Ducharme received from the riders in Port McNeill and other areas was that it "went smooth, was a great time, and now we're going to try and make it an annual thing going forward. We'll shoot for holding the Poker Run again next year after the long weekend in September."
Duarte's favourite moment from the Poker Run was "all the new faces that we met, their generosity was fantastic. I couldn't ask for a better group of people than the ones associated with this run."
