Latest news with #PokerRun
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans
Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans Bikers take to the roads for 18th annual Poker Run to support homeless veterans They served our country, and now far too many are left to struggle alone. But this weekend, a group of bikers hit the road to make sure our homeless veterans are not forgotten. It's a number no one truly knows: how many veterans are experiencing homelessness, all while many are already fighting a war within. "Not only homelessness, they suffer from PTSD, [and] there's drug issues," said Dr. Therone Wade-White, Director of Veteran Services at Shepherd's Heart Veteran Home. For 20 years, the Natrona Heights VFW Post 894 has made it a mission to help. On Sunday, bikers roared to life for their 18th annual Poker Run. "When they get back from the war, their houses will be gone. They'll have PTSD, unable to keep a job, so they end up on the streets," said Tom Grates, co-president of Ride for Homeless Veterans. The ride stretches 100 miles, but it's more than just a road. It raises money for Shepherd's Heart and raises awareness. There was food, a silent auction, and music, all for a purpose. "I've seen the transition since I was a kid, and it has grown and grown," said Alexis Kwalick, co-president of Ride for Homeless Veterans. "I can remember from the first couple of years when we were putting just socks, underwear, and that in a bucket for them. To now, we're getting stuff signed by Ted Nugent," said Grates. For those who ride, the mission is clear. "I think every bit helps, every bit helps," said Randall Kaczor. "We need to help them out." For many veterans, this ride means more than money: it means they're not forgotten. "The veterans sometimes feel as if they're unloved or unwanted, and then they see their brothers and sisters riding bikes with them to raise funds for them," said Therone Wade-White.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Dundee motorcycle crash leaves father fighting for recovery
The biking community is rallying to support local rider Jono Pienaar, who suffered a life-altering motorcycle accident on Saturday, May 31. Riding home from a charity Poker Run to pick up his daughter, Jono was struck head-on by a car that pulled out in front of him near the Engen Garage on Karel Landman Street. Initially released from the hospital with only Panado syrup, Jono's condition worsened overnight. After a house call by a local doctor, it was confirmed he had sustained severe trauma to his groin and pelvic area, leaving him unable to walk. An update on June 3 from friend Esme Steenkamkp revealed a pelvic dislocation fracture requiring a brace for four to eight weeks. The brace alone costs between R3,000 and R4,000. With Jono bedridden and his wife, Paige, forced to take leave to provide round-the-clock care, the family is struggling to keep food on the table. 'Friends, neighbours and fellow riders are asking anyone who can to contribute whatever they can to help Jono's family weather this crisis. Any donation—no matter how small—will go directly toward groceries, medical needs and basic living expenses until he can return to work. 'To support Jono and his family, please go to the Back a Buddy page to help Jono. Your generosity will make a real difference as he begins the long road to recovery,' said friend and fundraising organiser, Jackie Vermuelen.
Business Journals
22-04-2025
- General
- Business Journals
Capitol City Charity Golf Classic Benefitting Meals on Wheels Sacramento County
Meals on Wheels is excited to announce that we will be hosting several fundraising events in 2025. We are often asked about how Meals on Wheels Sacramento County is funded. We are partially supported by government and private foundation grants, donations from generous supporters, and fundraising activities. One of our signature events is the Capitol City Charity Golf Classic Benefitting Meals on Wheels Sacramento County. The tournament will tee off on October 20, 2025 at Rancho Murieta Country Club. The tournament will be a scramble format, with registration and breakfast starting at 9:00 AM. The shotgun start will be at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch, awards, raffle & auction. We are excited that as part of the promotion, we will be holding a Poker Run. Giant golf balls will be distributed throughout the Sacramento region, painted by local artists. David Garibaldi will be painting the first ball to kick off the Vegas Ball promotion. Your donation to Meals on Wheels Sacramento County directly impacts our ability to provide services to seniors and to provide resources to our dedicated volunteers. Meals on Wheels Sacramento County operates with a small staff and is largely supported by dedicated volunteers who provide roughly 5,000 hours of work each month. This helps keep administrative costs down and ensures that the majority of your donation goes directly to the preparation, delivery, and service of the meals themselves. We could not hold this event without the support of our key partners, and hope that you will consider sponsorship. We would be happy to create a custom package just for you and are grateful for the donations from our community members! ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS SACRAMENTO COUNTY Since 2010, Meals on Wheels Sacramento County has provided millions of nutritious meals to seniors aged 60 years or better in Sacramento County. We offer home-delivered meals to seniors who have difficulty leaving their homes or preparing food for themselves. We serve about two thousand Sacramento County seniors every week, and with the help of hundreds of volunteers and supporters, our program also provides friendly visits, status checks, and other safety-net services on top of home-delivered meals. In addition, older adults have the opportunity to socialize and receive a delicious lunch at one of our Community Cafes or restaurant partners. Additional information can be found on the tournament website:
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Springdale Veterans Memorial Organization hosting Poker Run
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Springdale Veterans Memorial Organization is hosting a Poker Run next month as part of its fundraising efforts to build the larger veterans memorial in the state. The Poker Run will be held on April 5. It begins at the American Legion Post 139 on Spring Street and end at the build site at JB Hunt Park. Registration for the event starts at 7 a.m. and winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. For more infroamion on the event, visit the SVMO website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
08-02-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
A fishing season that's over in a splash
Advertisement Most sturgeon are caught with hooks and lines, but fishers can use spears at Black Lake, which is about 15 miles south of Lake Huron, and the far larger Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Poachers and overfishing depleted the stock of sturgeon in Black Lake, which is three miles wide and six miles long. About 25 years ago, the state began limiting the sturgeon-spearing season to fish, not days. The scarcity drove demand. Several thousand fishermen and friends travel from around the country to stay for a long weekend, which gives the area an economic boost. 'To be honest, it's bigger than July 4 weekend,' said Jeremy Pasella, an owner of the 211 Bar & Grill in Onaway, a town of about 1,000 known as the Sturgeon Capital of Michigan. On the wall is a stuffed sturgeon and photos dating back decades. The season 'is worth two weeks of business in the winter.' Last year, the season was canceled because of a lack of ice on the lake, so larger crowds arrived this year. The line at 211 Bar & Grill stretched out the door. Dan Brown has a cabin not far from the lake that he rents, mostly to hunters and fishers, as well as three ice shanties he and his friends built. He rents them mostly to out-of-town fishers and uses a chainsaw to carve a hole in the ice, stocks the shanties with spears and other equipment, and turns on the heat before they arrive. Advertisement The extra income 'pays for gas and fuel, and beer, and a couple trips to the 2-1-1,' he said, referring to Pasella's restaurant. Austin Dreifuerst with the 78.3-pound sturgeon he caught during the 2025 sturgeon season on Black Lake near Cheboygan, Mich., on Feb. 1. BRIAN KAISER/NYT After the season ended at 8:17 a.m., fishermen crowded into tents at the Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree, a festival run by Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a conservation group. This year's event included raffles, a Poker Run, a fishing contest and lots of Busch beer. Outside, a whiteboard listed who speared each sturgeon and their weights and lengths. 'Catching a fish that's 6 feet long can get you pretty excited,' said Jay Woiderski, president of the group. 'Guys take them around to pubs and show them off, and people buy them beers.' Like other types of fishing, spearing sturgeon requires special equipment, including spears that look like a cross between a pitchfork and a trident. Some shanties are nylon and collapsible, while others are wooden and metal structures akin to a small shed. Roger Marsh, a former policeman who owns Onaway Outfitters, sold his last shanty in mid-January, income he welcomed after his business was hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic when the shivaree was canceled. 'The last two winters financially were dreadful,' he said. But 'this winter has been great,' he added. 'The fishermen are back.' In the predawn darkness an hour before the start of the season, the sounds and lights of snowmobiles and ATVs ricocheted across the lake as fishers ferried their gear to their shanties. The frenzy gave way to silence as the sun slowly rose and the fishers took their places over holes in the ice. Advertisement At 8 a.m., the Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent a mass text announcing the start of the season. 'Fishing season has officially begun — good luck!' it read. Three minutes later, another text arrived to say the first sturgeon had been caught. Less than 15 minutes later, the final text message said the season was over. The snowmobiles and ATVs began whirring again as shanties were pulled ashore. A few fishers lingered in search of pike, perch and muskie. Others tipped back beers. Despite the hoopla around sturgeon spearing, Marsh, who loves fishing, did not see the attraction of sitting in the cold. Yet he acknowledged the allure of the season. 'I imagine there's more than one libation that's cracked open on the lake' after a sturgeon is caught, he said. 'You got bragging rights for a whole year.' This article originally appeared in
